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March 22, 2022
Throughout the month of March, W&M Information Technology will be celebrating Women’s History Month by shining a spotlight on some of the ladies who keep the department and the university connected using the latest technology.
Bonnie Fleming is a Strategic Change Leader for W&M IT, and works on a variety special projects for the university. She’s been a member of the IT family for nearly two decades. Learn more about Bonnie and some of the memories she has from her years in IT!
What year did you start working at W&M?
I started working in W&M IT in February of 2005.
What were you doing before that?
I worked in private industry (government contractors, national staffing firm, and financial institutions). All of my roles have been in IT, from documentation specialist to business systems analyst to team leader to project manager.
What was your first title?
My first title at W&M was Content Specialist. My current title is Strategic Change Leader.
What are some of your duties?
I work on special projects in IT and fill in wherever help is needed. Some of what I am working on now is Banner 9 Self-Service student implementation and working with our Chief Data Officer Barbara Forth and the Business Intelligence team on finishing up the replacement of Discoverer. I am also co-chair of the W&M Payment Card Industry committee and am working with the committee and our merchants on compliance.
What has been the biggest technological advancement the university has made during your years in IT?
Cloud and mobile computing. When I started we were managing and hosting pretty much everything on-premise and most people were tied to their desktops. Now WIFI is more widespread and we can do everything from our smart phones. There were just flip phones when I started.
Is there a project that stands out in your mind that was particularly interesting or fun to work on? Why?
That is a hard one. I’ve had the pleasure of working on many projects/initiatives over the years; they’ve all had some element of fun incorporated into them. I guess the most interesting would be the rollout of our Voice Over IP (VOIP) phone system. I was able to visit just about every office on campus and interface with so many people during that project.
How do you stay current with technology?
Reading and talking to others. I reference the Chronicle of Higher Education, Educause and other similar sites. I’m not a gadget person, per se, but using technology and experimenting with it allows for faster adaptation.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I’m a crafter – sewing, cross-stitching, scrapbooking. I also love walking and hiking outdoors and being with my friends and family.
Do you have a favorite memory from your time working in IT?
There are a lot of favorite memories and all of them are about my many teammates and the work we did together. The one I keep going back to is when I was part of the Banner team and our offices were in the Patrick Galt house. Fridays were special and let’s just say sometimes the music got rather loud.
What’s unique about working in W&M IT?
The people! We have a special chemistry in IT and everyone is eager to help one another.
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