Information Technology Services

As a kindergartener, Joe Lubomirski, wrote basic computer applications on his family’s Apple IIe, a 1983 model that was touted as the most efficient Apple to date. “My dad was a computer guy and I grew up working on them,” Lubomirski says. “Computers are more than fun; they improve our lives. I knew what field I wanted to go into at an early age.”

Now an information technology professional of 20-plus years, ��-Dearborn’s director of security, infrastructure and operations continues to explore what’s newest and needed in the computing world. However, after he earned a promotion to a managerial position, Lubomirski realized that he needed to go from Number Munchers — that’s a throwback Apple II game from the same era as The Oregon Trail — to number cruncher. He also wanted to learn about leadership skills, team development and motivation, and other aspects of workplace management.

Lubomirski, seeing that top leaders often had MBAs, decided to pursue one of his own. Recognizing that ��-Dearborn’s MBA program offered online flexibility and ranked among the best in the state, he enrolled. And now, on Dec. 16, he’s looking forward to turning that tassel.

“I saw that a business education is beneficial, no matter your field. I’m an IT guy, but I wanted to better understand finances and budgets, organization culture, logistics and project management,” Lubomirski says. “An MBA could give me that.”

As he progressed in his program, he saw how the lessons he was learning directly applied to the work he was doing.

For example, he says his Organizational Behavior course helped him realize why some people offer solutions and others wait for direction. “As a manager, I value my team’s expert opinions and want to hear what they think a solution could be when we run into challenges. But some team members were hesitant to tell me what they thought,” he says. “Through the class, I learned that this could be due, in part, to cultural differences and experiences with leadership that were different from my more collaborative style. It gave me insight that I didn’t have before. I now ask for feedback differently.”

Since starting his MBA, Lubomirski says he’s continued to seek out leadership professional development opportunities. He earned a Certified Information Systems Security Professional certificate in 2021 and completed the MOR Leaders Program in 2022.

“Once you learn how others are doing things and how it can help you in what you do every day, you want to know more,” he says. “Sometimes I think about how my younger self could have benefited from knowing this stuff. It might have saved me from some growing pains as a professional. But it’s better later than never.”

Calling himself a “more seasoned” student, Lubomirski says the biggest challenge of returning to school was balancing full-time work, family time — Lubomirski and his wife Janelle have four kids ages 7 to 13 — and sleep. But he says a supportive boss, team and family, along with the ��-Dearborn staff tuition credit and a plethora of newly honed leadership skills made the journey worthwhile. And, unlike some of The Oregon Trail wagons Lubomirski guided as a kid on the family's Apple IIe, he successfully made it to his destination.

“There’s always more to learn, but I’m happy with what I’ve gained,” he says. “I’ve always known how leveraging computers can make practices more efficient and I’ve learned the same can be said about good leadership skills.”

Article by Sarah Tuxbury.

Commencement

Faculty and Staff

College of Business

Information Technology Services

Staff Senate

Off

Wed, 12/13/2023 - 15:44

��-Dearborn’s Director of Security, Infrastructure and Operations Joe Lubomirski has solid IT skills, but he wanted to grow as a leader. So the U-M employee of 20-plus years enrolled in the MBA program.

Graphic by Violet Dashi

News

Summer 25, Session 2 End of Term Prod. Freeze

dwreeve — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 19:03:42 +0000

Summer 25, Session 2 End of Term Prod. Freeze dwreeve Wed, 02/15/2023 - 14:03

Updates and changes to business applications will not be made during this period.

2025-08-18T00:00:00-0400 to2025-08-25T23:59:59-0400

United States

��D ITS APPLICATIONS GROUP

Faculty

Staff

Information Technology Services

Other

Coming soon: Campus Tech Shop

stuxbury — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 16:48:20 +0000

Coming soon: Campus Tech Shop stuxbury Thu, 02/20/2020 - 11:48

U-M Tech Shop logo

A technology store and repair center will be just steps away from your classroom.

A collaboration between ��-Dearborn and U-M Information and Technology Services departments is bringing a Tech Shop to campus this fall.

Located in the University Center, a 700-square-foot storefront space will sell items like laptops, iPads and technology equipment at academic pricing, which is often the most discounted price available. It will also have certified Apple, Dell, and HP repair. The construction, which will affect a portion of the Bookstore, will begin in May. A grand opening will take place this fall.

The U-M system currently offers technology equipment through stores on the Ann Arbor campus and on the U-M Computer Showcase website — which will soon be rebranded to have the U-M Tech Shop name — where the ��-Dearborn community can shop.

However, the Dearborn ITS group wanted to bring a physical shop to campus so ��-Dearborn students, faculty and staff had access to a convenient, more immediate and personalized place to go for their technology needs. Departments also order items at the Tech Shop at the same prices as M-Marketsite and have same-day or next-day delivery for in-stock items.

“We saw there was a hole in tech support and proposed a way to fill it. We hear that many students, faculty and staff are going to Ann Arbor or Novi to have someone they trust repair their computers. It’s a big deal when you have something break and you need to drive an hour to get help. We want people to be able to stop in on their way to class or to their office,” said Carrie Shumaker, director of information technology, strategy and operations and chief information officer. Shumaker says the store will also serve Henry Ford College students, faculty, and staff.

Shumaker says the ��-Dearborn Tech Shop will have a similar layout to an Apple store — Apple recently approved the store’s design — and will have staff on hand to answer questions; in addition to a U-M staff member, there will be part-time employment opportunities for ��-Dearborn students to work in the store. The team is also working to make it possible for students to charge items to their student account and for faculty/staff to make installment payments through payroll deduction.

For more information about the ��-Dearborn Tech Shop, contact Shumaker.

Accessibility or Affordability

Student Success

Technology

Information Technology Services

Off

Thu, 02/20/2020 - 16:46

A collaboration between ��-Dearborn and U-M Information and Technology Services departments is bringing a Tech Shop to campus this fall.

News

Carrie Shumaker named ITS director, CIO

admin — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 12:57:48 +0000

Carrie Shumaker named ITS director, CIO admin Mon, 09/18/2017 - 08:57

Carrie Shumaker

Carrie Shumaker won’t leave you lost in translation.

Named the director of information technology, strategy and operations in the Department of Information Technology Services (ITS) and chief information officer Sept. 1, Shumaker has always had an interest in bridging information through effective communication.

She served as an editor of her college newspaper to take information and craft it in an understandable way for the audience. As an undergraduate student, she took foreign language classes and majored in Spanish.

During her senior year, a college career adviser pointed out a different field—one that still played into her communication interests—and she found her path: information technology.

“Information technology is a tangible output that benefits people. I love it,” she said. “I can both understand IT speak and make it relatable to those who may not. For progress, having a message translated effectively is essential.”

Shumaker, who has served as interim campus ITS director since December, is responsible for leading the development, implementation and administration of comprehensive information technology strategies, policies and procedures that support the university’s mission and goals.

“When I told people I was coming to ��-Dearborn, I was told of the family environment it has. It’s true,” she said. “There is a harmony. Our work here is to benefit our students and, through them, society. Everyone believes in this campus’ mission to transform lives and we all feel it.”

Since December, Shumaker has provided strategic direction on numerous campus priorities such as Banner upgrades and the implementation of the campus constituent relations management system and has re-established and repopulated campus IT governance committees.

Always up for a challenge, Shumaker said she enjoys the nature of the IT field.

“Even if you know the prevailing technology at the time, you aren’t going to be an expert long unless you keep challenging yourself. Everything changes so fast. And that’s the pace I like.”

Shumaker, who worked in information technology at ��-Ann Arbor for 16 years, said she felt the Dearborn campus’ energy—through interacting with students and staff—almost as soon as she began: She saw engineering students and faculty work together on projects in the Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems. She observed the strong work ethic of her student interns. And she heard from students what attending ��-Dearborn means to them.

“These students are coming here to change their lives. Many are first generation. Many are working full time. Many have children and other responsibilities,” she said. “What we do in ITS connects students to the university, which helps them accomplish their goals. That is an amazing thing to be a part of.”

Faculty and Staff

Information Technology Services

Off

Mon, 09/18/2017 - 12:56

Shumaker has served as interim campus ITS director since December.

News