How would you describe your job? I pretty much have to keep up with the technology. I have to set goals for what I see as the technology needs for the college years ahead. For projects, like let's say the college wants document imaging, I would talk to vendors. There are four people in my department. I do the budget, make sure people have the tools they need. If the Internet goes down, I have to make sure it goes back up.

(ENLARGE)

Wayman White, age 37 Elizabeth City Director of Management Information Services College of The Albemarle, 10 years

Has your job been affected by changes in technology or other changes? Technology definitely has changed. It's amazing to see new

computers over the years, even the cost of them. It used to be a computer would cost $1,000. Now you can get one for $500.

Besides salary, what benefits do you derive from your work? I've always wanted to do computer science. As soon as I saw my first computer, I knew. It was a Commodore VIC-20, then a Commodore 64, then a Commodore 128 ... It's like a passion.

What are the long-term or indirect benefits of your job? Working with people. I enjoy working with the people here. I like to solve problems. Also, we work as a team. We all work together as a family.

How do you see your job benefiting the larger community? Sometimes students ask me questions. People I know might see me somewhere and ask me a question. Someone might ask me, 'What kind of computer can I buy?' I don't mind sharing what I know.

— Zac Goldstein