To enable student workers to immediately feel at ease in his office, Information Technology Services ResNET Interim Manager Paul Wolff displays on the top of a bookcase a collection of mini action figures and toys from his own childhood.
It’s hard to imagine, though, that Wolff would ever require the play things to coax conversation from even the most reserved UNC-Chapel Hill student. Wolff’s amiable nature and youthful appearance alone would do the trick. But then there also are his experiences and academic degrees to assure students that Wolff can relate to and can support the technology needs of his client base—thousands of students living in the residence halls as well as employees of the University’s Department of Housing and Residential Education.
Wolff has three degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill—his undergraduate in history and two 
masters, one in information science and another in teaching. He’s one year into a doctorate in educational technology from the University of Florida. While a Carolina student, he worked for the Department of Housing and Residential Education and the ITS Help Desk. He served as a Residence Hall Association governor and worked as a residential adviser in Teague residence hall. And did we mention he also was a high school teacher for four years?
“It’s a lot of fun to support this environment,” said Wolff, who became ResNET Assistant Manager in January 2009 and took the ResNET helm on an interim basis two months ago. Chris Williams, who served as ResNET’s Manager for 11 years, recently left to become IT Director at Student Affairs.
“It doesn’t feel like work when you love your job,” Wolff said. “We take on exciting projects and work with some of the best clients imaginable. I have an amazing team in ResNET and we couldn’t do any of this without partnerships with other groups in ITS. They work tirelessly to make the Carolina experience the best it possibly can be for our students.”
Check back here at ITS News each Tuesday and Thursday through September 17 for more coverage of ResNET. On Thursday read about the wide variety of technology that ResNET supplies and supports.