Name: Chad Lafferty
Professional Position: IRT Workshop Coordinator and Field Computer Technician
Photo courtesy of Clare Lafferty.
If you take advantage of the university’s technology services on campus, you may recognize Rowan University’s PROFessional of the Month for August, Chad. He is responsible for running the Information Resources and Technology’s Workshop, or as most students understand it as, the place where you can bring your computer problems. Chad has also been acknowledged for his leadership in the relocation of the IRT Workshop.
Chad has been described as the type of person who “always goes the extra mile for those needing assistance” and “will often go out on campus to assist those that can’t make it into the workshop.” This is the first time he has won this recognition in the 5 years he’s been a fulltime employee at Rowan, but it is not the first time he has been nominated. In fact, Chad has been nominated several times by multiple employees who have witnessed the dedication he puts into his job on the university campus.
Tyler Higgins, junior Health and Exercise Science major at Rowan, has been working for Chad for almost 3 years. She says, “It’s been nothing short of a blessing to work for someone so selfless, intelligent, and more than willing to drop everything to help anyone.” Jokingly she adds, “However, I think I deserve a raise for having to constantly laugh at all of his ‘jokes’ day in and day out.” Ultimately, she finished her comment by saying, “…I wouldn’t trade him for another boss in the world.”
As Rowan’s PROFfessional of the month, Chad was surprised by the university with a balloon and cake to celebrate his achievement.
When asked about what this recognition meant to Chad, he said, “It means a lot, but not because I feel the need to be recognized for my success, but because it takes everyone that works for me and with me to make the Technology Assistance Center successful and invaluable.” He also went on to add, “Everyone’s joint effort is what makes it worth honoring and I’m just lucky to kind of be the face that runs the place.”
Not only have I gotten the opportunity to work in the same department as Chad, but I’m proud to say that he is my brother and someone I have looked up to all my life.