1) What was your path from student to transportation program specialist?
I chose the University of Oregon because it had the best scholarships. I was a PathwayOregon student, which was a really good program [full tuition and fees for qualifying Oregonians]. I needed a job senior year and Transportation Services hired me as a front desk worker. After I graduated, a position opened as kiosk attendant in the 13th Avenue garage. Now I’m the go-to guy for setting up parking permits on our website.
2) How’d you become a whiz with the parking permit system?
In my spare time I learned programming. Over the pandemic, I learned our new parking portal technology. Whenever faculty, staff or students request parking permits through the portal, I make sure our technology is interfacing correctly. I just like the challenge of trying to solve a problem.
3) What’s the nastiest someone’s been over a parking ticket?
I got a call from someone upset about a parking ticket and they said, “What a great university you have here, Mr. Stalin.” It was especially funny because as a history major, I was doing a study of Stalin and reading about all the horrible things he did. You just have to keep it positive. And it’s easy to talk with everyone here about these kinds of things — we all have each other’s backs.
4) You’re big into comic strips — how come?
Comics are just so dynamic. Growing up, I was a huge fan of “Pearls Before Swine,” “Far Side,” “Peanuts.” At the university, I was in the comics and cartoon studies program; I started Art Ducko, the university’s comics magazine. It started in 2014; I was editor in chief for the first six issues and now they’re up to 28. I’m really proud to see how it’s taken off.
5) What’s your story as a comedian?
My mom’s been doing improv since I was 13. When I was 15, I did my first open mic. A lot of it was self-deprecating humor — just being a high schooler, dealing with hormones, dealing with how you looked. After graduating, I did open mics in Eugene — I had a ukulele and I sang songs. It feels good to make people laugh. It’s an immediate endorphin dump.
Do you know a UO employee with an interesting angle? Email Matt Cooper, University Communications