{"679742":{"#nid":"679742","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Computing Staff Member Embarks on a New Academic Journey","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAlthough he\u0027s just starting classes at Georgia Tech this semester,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EMichael Goodson\u003C\/strong\u003E is ahead of the game. He already has a favorite spot to chill and has a ton of experience navigating campus on a scooter.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo be fair, Goodson has an 18-month head start on other new students trying to build mental maps of Tech\u0027s 400+-acre campus. Goodson is a procurement coordinator at the College of Computing, and this month, he starts classes in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/lp\/which-mba\/index.html?interest=evening-mba\u0026amp;utm_source=google\u0026amp;utm_medium=cpc\u0026amp;utm_campaign=mba-all-search-pmax\u0026amp;utm_term=\u0026amp;matchtype=\u0026amp;gad_source=1\u0026amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAyc67BhDSARIsAM95QztqGIDba7F4xKeZu2U2A4I952kTyxrnmX81UFb91yUeOmi1VQ0q28AaAtfnEALw_wcB\u0026amp;gclsrc=aw.ds\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Scheller\u0027s Evening MBA program\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGoodson, originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, joined the College\u0027s purchasing team in August 2023. As procurement coordinator, he works closely with faculty and staff to purchase the technical equipment powering research initiatives across the College.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMichael ensures purchases flow to Facilities for inventory documentation and TSO (Technology Services Organization) for technical oversight,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EOliver\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EMahone\u003C\/strong\u003E, finance manager II and Goodson\u2019s supervisor. \u201cHe is diligent, knowledgeable, and customer-service oriented. I think his attention to detail and follow-up are important as well.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeing the sole point of contact for technical equipment in a bustling research environment can be demanding. However, Goodson, who earned his bachelor\u0027s degree in logistics, materials, and supply-chain management from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2018, is up for the task.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022It can be very busy, but I thrive on challenging myself,\u0022 Goodson said. \u0022And I really enjoy engaging with faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPushing himself is part of what motivated Goodson to pursue an advanced degree. He says the people around him also encouraged him to choose Georgia Tech Scheller\u0027s Evening MBA program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022My work team, family, and friends inspired me to try to get into the program. I was accepted and, accessing the\u0026nbsp;tuition assistance program (TAP), I enrolled,\u0022 Goodson said. \u0022Since being accepted, I look forward to the experience and growing my knowledge and professional network.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech offers\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/benefits.hr.gatech.edu\/education-assistance\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eeducational assistance to staff and faculty\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E as part of its employee benefits program. As an employee in good standing who\u2019s been employed with the University System of Georgia for more than six months, Goodson was eligible for a tuition waiver through TAP.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGoodson is one of 84 students accepted into the 2025 Evening MBA Program. To focus their studies and develop expertise in a specific business area, students choose from 14 MBA concentrations the program offers. These areas range from accounting to sustainability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I\u0027m still considering which concentration area to pursue. Right now, Supply Chain \u0026amp; Operations Management, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership are my top three choices,\u0022 Goodson said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs he decides which concentration path to pursue, Goodson is taking two classes this semester:\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EFinancial \u0026amp; Managerial Accounting\u003C\/em\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EBusiness Communications.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMichael is a dedicated employee who strives to consistently improve. So, I know his tenure as a student will be successful,\u201d said \u003Cstrong\u003EBenjamin\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003EPowell\u003C\/strong\u003E, College financial director.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with having a mind for procurement, logistics, and business, Goodson also has an active creative life. He\u0027s a skilled percussionist and self-taught music producer who creates and independently releases music. His work is available on Apple Music,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/artist\/1w4rwqViX9fUSUCbBeabiJ?si=NUodTMU4Ryu2VzF6gsMdww\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESpotify\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, and other streaming services.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGoodson is also an avid reader. When the weather is nice, he enjoys reading on his Kindle at his favorite chill spot near the student center. His interests range from philosophy to fantasy. He said, \u0022Neville Goddard and J.K. Rowling are my favorite authors, and I love the Harry Potter series.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGoodson is one of more than 150 College of Computing staff members who support the College and its five schools. Staff members are the backbone of the College. From managing operations to providing essential services, their dedication ensures the seamless delivery of education, research, and community support, making them integral to the College\u0027s success.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhoto by Terence Rushin\/College of Computing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECollege of Computing procurement coordinator Micahel Goodson is balancing the demands of a full-time job and Georgia Tech\u0027s Evening MBA program.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Micahel Goodson is balancing the demands of a full-time job and Georgia Tech\u0027s Evening MBA program."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2025-01-21 15:06:07","changed_gmt":"2025-01-21 15:48:27","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-01-21T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-01-21T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676071":{"id":"676071","type":"image","title":"Computing staff member Michael Goodson","body":null,"created":"1737472639","gmt_created":"2025-01-21 15:17:19","changed":"1737472751","gmt_changed":"2025-01-21 15:19:11","alt":"Computing staff member Michael Goodson poses with a smile in his office at Georgia Tech.","file":{"fid":"259781","name":"Michael Goodson_86A7635.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/21\/Michael%20Goodson_86A7635.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/01\/21\/Michael%20Goodson_86A7635.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":90265,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/01\/21\/Michael%20Goodson_86A7635.jpg?itok=0nTvNzz-"}}},"media_ids":["676071"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42951","name":"Student Art"}],"keywords":[{"id":"67881","name":"Tuition Assistance Program"},{"id":"100041","name":"evening MBA"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"11075","name":"The Whistle"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker, Communications Manager\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}