Gary DiLisio
Director of Undergraduate Education, Information Systems Program
- Hamburg Hall 3048
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Bio
Pronouns: he/him/his
Office Location: Hamburg Hall 3048
To schedule a meeting: Email Gary at gdilisio@andrew.cmu.edu
Gary advises current Information Systems students and sophomore internal transfer applicants.
How long have you been at CMU and how did you get here?
I've been at CMU since 2009; six of which have been with the IS department. Before working in IS, I worked with undeclared first-years and sophomores in the Dietrich Success Center (DSC) from 2009-2015. Prior to CMU, I was a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Disability Services at Youngstown State University, which is also where I received my Masters in Counseling/Student Affairs.
What is one of your favorite memories at CMU?
One of my all-time favorite memories was when I visited campus for the very first time to interview for the advising position that I would later be offered. My mom and stepdad insisted on driving with me due to how hard the rain had been coming down. It's a good thing they did because I forgot my wallet and wouldn't have been able to pay for the tolls or for parking! Anyways, they quizzed me on the way up (it was a 90-minute drive) so that I could go into the interview fully prepared and confident. After the interview, we spent some time walking around campus and even grabbed a bite to eat. When I look back on my journey at CMU, I am always very grateful that I could say that it all started on a rainy day with the people I love.
What is something you love about Dietrich College and/or your department?
The students are a given but I also love the department that I work for. My colleagues in IS are a lot like a second family to me. They are so passionate about what they do and care so deeply for the students. I couldn't possibly ask for a better team.
When was a time when you struggled or encountered a setback? How did you respond?
I did my student teaching in my final semester of undergrad and something just didn't feel right. I guess it didn't help that I couldn't even get the kids to sit down let alone listen to my lesson lol. The passion that I once had for teaching had clearly minimized to where I began questioning EVERYTHING. I had a moment of panic but instead of spiraling out of control, I had a heart to heart with those I was closest to (including my academic advisor) and decided to pursue graduate school immediately following undergrad. This ended up being an absolute game changer for both my life and career. I learned that it's okay to come into college with a 4-year plan and beyond but you have to be willing to stop, reflect and reevaluate from time to time.