Jeff Whitworth, associate vice chancellor and chief technology officer, UNC-Greensboro
Age: 39
Work address: 611 Forest St., McNutt Building, Greensboro 27412
City you live in: Greensboro
Education: Bachelor's, computer science, UNC Wilmington; master's, computer science, UNC-Greensboro
Why selected: Whitworth works to design and implement technology that helps facilitate learning, research, administration and community engagement. With a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, he worked as the lead principal investigator on the Gate City Research Network, which is a high-speed network that connects UNCG and N.C. A&T State University to the scientific community.
How can the Triad better retain young and talented professionals? The Triad must continue to invest in works that make the Triad an amazing place to raise a family. As young professionals look for places to settle down, the Triad offers a unique experience of "not too big but not too small." The more that the Triad can lean into this strategy the more it will retain young professionals as they look for places to put down roots.
Most meaningful volunteer activity? Serving on the board of the Greensboro Urban Ministry.
I am passionate about.....algorithms and systems. I know it may sound cliché since I work in the IT field, but I really do love discovering how things work, how to improve them, and how to put them to work. I see this passion throughout many aspects of my life — it comes out around the house when I work on our steam boiler, at work when I put in place technology, and in my volunteer work when I help develop and refine processes to better support the organization. I'm extremely thankful I get to work in a field that my passions are valued.
A fun fact people may not know about you? I really enjoy cooking and every weekend I make scratch-made buttermilk biscuits.
Tell us about a talent you are most proud of. Cooking. I'm not an amazing cook but I really enjoy making good food. The process is a great way for me to focus my energy to create something tangible — and hopefully delicious. My family and friends usually get to enjoy the benefits, although they may have to put up with me during the process.
Have you displayed your talent publicly? Nothing publicly, but I have made cinnamon rolls for plenty of friends.
What television show or movie would be best suited to demonstrate your talent and why? Easy - Alton Brown's "Good Eats". The style is right up my alley. He breaks down the science of cooking in a way that just makes sense.
If you could meet anyone in the world, who would you like to meet? C.S. Lewis. His writings have influenced my life more than any other author and I wish I could sit down and have a conversation with him.
