by Niriyyeh Brett

What do you do at CMU?

“I am an IT administrator. I maintain the databases and applications used by the CMU Foundation and Alumni Association. These apps include the accounting and donor management software used by the foundation and the graduate and alumni information used by the alumni association.”

What did you do before you worked at CMU?

“Before this I was an engineer at Dish Network.”

Where are you from?

“I grew up in the state of Washington.”

How did you come to be in Grand Junction?

“After I graduated my parents moved to Cedaredge. My wife and my in laws are from Grand Junction. After we got out of school we worked in Parker, Colo. for 8 or 9 years and then we came back. “

Do you like it in Grand Junction?

“I love it here, it’s home. We’ve been here 11 years now.”

How did you get involved in the rodeo team?

“I grew up in rodeo. My dad was in the rodeo. I have a brother who is a year older and wrestling and rodeo were the sports we did. When I came here to CMU I had known the coach at the time for years. I wasn’t on campus three days before he called to see if I could be the advisor for the team.”

What is your role with the rodeo team?

“I am the advisor to the CMU Rodeo Team. I do everything from their paperwork to helping with practices. I am also the caretaker of the new rodeo facility on east Orchard Mesa. This includes basic property maintenance and caring for pastures and livestock.”

What does the rodeo team do?

“We participate in the national and collegiate Rodeo Association in the Rocky Mountain Region which is mainly Utah, Southern Idaho and Western Colorado. We travel to 10 rodeos a year, and the whole goal is to qualify for the college national finals in Casper, Wyoming. “

What are your hobbies?

“I like to do woodwork, and I jog quite a bit. I like to hike, it’s a big part of the reason we live here.”

Who do you hope wins the Super Bowl?

“Neither of the teams in the Super Bowl are teams that I really follow. I am kind of rooting for Atlanta. I am a Denver Bronco fan, but I have also always liked Green Bay.”