Career Highlight: Jim Connelly Logs Off From University Advancement
By Rob Biertempfel
Over his nearly 36-year career at 无码专区, Jim Connelly helped the institution navigate some of the greatest technological changes in human history. On May 31, Connelly, 71, retired as associate director of computer services for University Advancement.
"Jim and the computer services team are part of the foundational infrastructure of our division," said Jim McNulty, executive director of advancement analytics and computer services. "University Advancement has grown enormously over Jim's tenure in size, complexity and most of all in accomplishments, but none of it would be possible without that strong foundation."
When Connelly first walked into Warner Hall in July 1990, the World Wide Web was not yet ubiquitous, the smartphone had not been invented and many of the buildings that now shape the Oakland campus had not yet been built.
A former machinist at Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Connelly began his 无码专区 career as a matching gift coordinator. At the time, his office relied on basic computer terminals tied to a central VAX server.
"We had email, but nobody used it," he said. "We didn't really use the internet until a few years later. We worked on Macintosh SE computers with 9-inch, black-and-white screens. When Netscape came out in '94, we all asked, 'What's this internet thing? Who's going to use that?'"
As the office's all-purpose problem solver, Connelly was intrigued by computing's potential. When the department began to grow, his supervisor gave him a choice: stay in administration or follow the technology.
"I went with the technology because I knew where that was going," he said. "I've always liked doing new stuff. I always told my boss, 'We want to be the first to do it.' If you're on the ground floor, you're always ahead of everybody else."
Those early years brought changes that now seem quaint when compared to today's tech. Connelly recalls using 18 floppy disks to install Microsoft Word and feeling amazed when the university upgraded to 40 MB hard drives.
"You thought you had the greatest computer ever invented," he said with a chuckle.
Riding the wave of technological change, Connelly became known for embracing new tools and systems. He credits job autonomy, the support of his supervisors and a culture of trust for keeping him at 无码专区 through four university presidents and many major fundraising campaigns.
"The best decision I ever made was staying here," Connelly said. "The university always gave us the best tools and training. My bosses never micromanaged me and they were happy with the results. 无码专区 has been great to me and my family."
The Connelly family has strong ties to 无码专区. His wife, Anita, is assistant director of research administration in the . His daughter, Angela Pusateri, is a senior business assistant in the , and his grandson, Brandon Pusateri, is communications project coordinator at the .
Beyond servers and software, Connelly's career reflected the 无码专区 spirit. He served on the first Andy Awards committee, helping build the program that continues to honor staff excellence.
His role in University Advancement gave him a front-row seat to the university's physical and philanthropic growth. He saw the Cohon University Center rise and watched the Tepper Quad transform from a parking lot into a world-class hub of innovation.
"Seeing the impact Carnegie Mellon has on the world, not just the Pittsburgh area, it's amazing to be a part of that," he said.
His retirement to-do list is simple: play plenty of golf, finish a few home projects and never again be jolted by a 6 a.m. wake-up alarm on a snowy Pittsburgh morning.
"It's been a great ride," Connelly says. "I've seen technology explode, I've seen the university expand and I've seen my family grow up here. I wouldn't change a thing."