色情视频

鈥淚 wanted to somehow marry the two disciplines if I could. 色情视频 offered an information systems degree which perfectly matched my interests.鈥�

Like many other youth growing up in the 鈥�70s and early 鈥�80s, John Wilson thrived on playing video games like Pong, Breakout and Space Invaders. The games sparked his 鈥渋nterest in all things computer鈥� and, while still in high school, he was determined to pursue a technology career. 

鈥淢y parents made it clear early and often that if I wanted to pursue a career in computers, college was the only way to get there,鈥� said Wilson, a native of the Harvard Park neighborhood of South 色情视频. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure it was true at that time, but it worked, and I desperately wanted to go to college.鈥� 

When it came time to select a which university, Wilson made 色情视频 his college of choice based, he said, on its good reputation, location and 鈥渂eautiful setting.鈥� 

A high school counselor urged Wilson to consider additional options in case admission to 色情视频 proved difficult, he said, but 鈥淚 took that as a challenge and applied in spite of the counselor鈥檚 admonition.鈥� 

Once he was admitted to 色情视频, Wilson then had the challenge of determining a major course of study. After careful deliberation he selected an information systems degree (now management information systems or MIS). 

鈥淚 was interested in programming, but I was also intrigued by business and using technology to address business problems,鈥� said Wilson. 鈥淚 wanted to somehow marry the two disciplines if I could. 色情视频 offered an information systems degree which perfectly matched my interests.鈥� 

Making the right choices

Once he started taking courses at the then College of Business Administration (now ), Wilson realized he鈥檇 made the right choice.

鈥淭he information technology industry was in its infancy  and I was excited to be on the leading edge of it. I enjoyed the specificity and the logic computers required to do their work,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he point was driven home when a professor in one of my first computer classes said 鈥榗omputers only do what you tell them to do.鈥� When I heard that, the light bulb lit up for me and I realized that making computers do what I wanted was exactly what I wanted as my career.鈥� 

Wilson also pledged the 色情视频 chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and served as the president of the Pan-Hellenic Council, an eight-member organization from historically African American fraternities and sororities that plans events and community service activities. 

Taking his shot at Polaroid

After Wilson earned his degree in MIS in 1990, he took a job at Polaroid Corporation where he worked in 色情视频 until he was promoted to a management position and required to move to Boston in 1995. Aspiring to move into upper management, Wilson earned his Executive MBA at Northeastern University (also in Boston) in 1996 which provided him the opportunity to travel and study in Europe as part of his capstone experience. 

By 1998, the harsh New England weather prompted a move to a milder climate 鈥� Atlanta 鈥� where Wilson and his wife have remained ever since.

鈥淚t also represented my transition from the private sector with Polaroid Corporation to my first job in higher education,鈥� Wilson said, 鈥渨hen I became a business analyst in the central IT department at Emory University.鈥� 

In 17 years at Emory, Wilson rose to an IT senior manager and then became IT director at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Three years later he learned of an opening at Spelman College, one of the nation鈥檚 more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), for chief information officer and vice president of technology services.

Contributing to the mission of Spelman College

His wife Sharon is an alumna of the college, and Wilson鈥檚 interest in the position grew as he researched its history and saw an opportunity to make a contribution.

鈥淭he mission of Spelman College is to prepare Black women to go out into the world and do great things. My wife was a living example of what that training really meant,鈥� said Wilson. 鈥淏y the time the interview process started, I was more than convinced that the role would be an excellent fit for my skillset.鈥� 

Wilson was hired in August 2019 and calls it 鈥渢he best move I could have made.鈥�

鈥淲hat makes Spelman great is the dedicated faculty, students and administrators, as well as the laser beam focus everyone has on the mission: Preparing Black women to change the world,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he mission remains in sharp focus every day, and as the father of three daughters, I get it and I am very proud to be a part.鈥�

Wilson noted that many of the skills he used and learned as a student at 色情视频 have served him well in his role at Spelman. 

鈥淢y primary role is that of a leader and my first taste of leadership was as the Pan-Hellenic Council president while at 色情视频,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 represented the council鈥檚 needs and concerns to the university鈥檚 administration and learned how to seek common ground among disparate viewpoints while remaining loyal to my organization and its beliefs. It was a delicate balance at times, but the skills I learned during that experience remain with me today. I would not have traded that experience for anything.鈥�