Tell us who you are, what you do, and where you work. How did your path lead into higher education AV?
My name is Edin, and I am the Audiovisual Systems Integration Engineer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. My campus does not generally contract out AV work of any kind. This means my supervisor and I get to take part in everything from initial meetings and design through installation and integration to maintenance and repair.
Like many, my first experience working with AV was in the booth of a high school theater. You could sign up for this “club” that ran the AV for school performances, but more than just a regular club, it was also a paid job. I remember even having to fill out a worker’s permit since I wasn’t 16 yet! While at the time I was thinking I would sign up for any club that would pay me to be in it, I ended up genuinely enjoying it. So, when some years later I found a similar job posting at an art college, I jumped at the opportunity to do it again for a little while.
That was 11 years ago now. Since then, I have worked my way up from being that student tech to being in charge of them and becoming a big part of the operation as a whole!
What does a typical day in your role look like?
With my role covering so much of the AV operation, it is hard to pin down what typical is. Throughout the week, I could bounce from all-day meetings one day, to being up and down ladders the next, and at my desk putting together GUIs the day after that.
Outside of work, what are some of the things you enjoy doing?
I am an artist and am chipping away at a variety of different projects at any given time, primarily illustration and comics. I am also lucky to say I have a very big and busy social circle. If I am going out, it is usually for karaoke. More often, though, I find myself at a table with a big board game or TTRPG going.
I have spent a lot of my life hopping around the nerd convention circuit, with GenCon being the one convention I get to these days. Partly because last year, a couple of friends and I put together a GenCon-like micro-convention ourselves. We had a venue, programming, lanyards, badges, the whole nine yards! I was responsible for art direction and, of course, making sure the AV worked for the Karaoke and PowerPoint Party events. I am very much looking forward to doing it again this year.
How did you first learn about the Prism Scholarship?
I had the pleasure of meeting the HETMA folks at ETC 2023. Got on their newsletter, which is where I found out about the program.
What motivated you to apply?
In the past, there existed a possibility that my institution could be convinced to pay for professional development, such as pursuing a CTS. Unfortunately, with the current state of things for cultural institutions and higher ed, that funding no longer exists. It wasn’t long after we were told about these budget cuts that the email announcing applications for this year’s Prism Scholarship came out. It felt like a “now’s the time” moment.
Was there a specific person, experience, or goal that encouraged you to take this step?
My students motivate me to keep being a student myself. I get the opportunity to empower young artists with invaluable skills as they navigate the job market post-graduation. The more I can do to keep myself educated and current, the better I can show up for them.
What made this feel like the right time in your career?
At some point, I looked around and suddenly realized I was the go-to person at my institution for AV questions and needs. I am just about out of other folks I can turn to in my direct circle to learn more, so it felt like time to start seeing what I could learn beyond my bubble.
What are your current professional goals?
To be the first person in my department to be a CTS holder! Beyond that, I want to find ways to marry that CTS with what I learned through my BFA and discover creative ways to innovate the AV environments at my institution.
What skills or knowledge are you hoping to gain through the Prism experience?
The language and technical knowledge to speak to the things I know. I feel a bit confined in how well I can come across professionally because, while I know I understand the concepts, I lack the vocabulary to communicate them.
What excites you most about this opportunity?
Honestly, I am excited for the structure and accountability. I think that even if I had full access to unlimited materials and the test, I would struggle to accomplish it entirely on my own. Having other people on the same journey and folks expecting check-ins is super grounding.
Why do programs like Prism matter to the AV industry?
Programs like Prism matter because even with the best intentions of inclusivity, you can only get so far in a vacuum. Without a diverse pool of experiences to pull from, you can’t holistically understand, and thus effectively address, what may be keeping folks on the outside.
Furthermore, I do think the issue of representation is something of a snake eating its own tail here. There is a quote from activist Marian Wright Edelman: “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Seeing yourself represented in a space does an incredible amount of heavy lifting for humans to believe we are capable of succeeding in those spaces. Giving up, not even trying, is far easier when you are looking around and are the odd one out every time.
By providing the extra support marginalized people need to get their footing and be a presence in this industry, Prism is doing important work to make it that much easier for the next generation to have that support as a natural part of the industry’s culture.
Have there been moments in your career when representation, mentorship, or community made a difference for you?
My whole career only exists because of these moments. My very first AV job in high school was the result of someone’s dedication to mentoring young folks in this field. Early in my career, the boss who really brought me up was a woman of color. She understood the importance of getting different voices represented at the table and went well out of her way to make sure that happened, often bringing me right along with her.
Even now, I am surrounded by folks whose support and encouragement make all the difference every day. The life I live today is the fruit cultivated from a community garden.
What does being selected as a Prism Scholar mean to you personally?
What it means to me is hard to put into words. When I got the news that I had been chosen, I felt like I was enough. Excuse the dramatics, but genuinely, broadly, that’s how it felt! Being given this opportunity has been a huge boon toward silencing the self-doubt that says somehow my experience isn’t as real or worthwhile as others’.
Having the work I have put into my career and identity recognized like this will be something I reflect on when I need a confidence boost for years to come. Not to mention, I did study writing in school. On top of everything else, I definitely got the added validation of seeing my actual degree pay off in a new way.
What part of the program are you most looking forward to?
Going to InfoComm! I haven’t had a lot of opportunity to travel in my life, so just getting to see a different place is already exciting. I have only ever been to one industry event before, and it was an incredible experience. Getting to talk shop with other people, both on a technical level and in terms of the epic highs and lows of working in higher ed, is still one of the highlights of my career. And, as I have mentioned, I do love a convention.
If you could fast-forward to the end of the experience, what would you hope to have accomplished?
Other than having some shiny new letters added to my email signature, I hope to have grown my confidence enough to really take ownership of who I am professionally and what I know. Particularly, I’d love to be in a place where I am more involved and making friends with other folks in the industry.
What message would you share with others who may be considering applying in the future?
The worst thing that can possibly happen by applying is not being selected. The same result is guaranteed if you don’t apply at all! There is nothing to lose! Don’t be the first person to count yourself out.
