Getting to Know You ➡ Jason Kosowski

Jason Kosowski is the IT technical associate (LS) for Human Resources.

What do you like about your job?

I get to work with people who care about the work they do and are great team members. I also have the opportunity to get involved in many different aspects of the university, participating in several committees from customer service improvements to AI ethics. The ability to work on a variety of projects and use my problem-solving skills is very important to me.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I get to be the fun, wacky uncle. I have a total of eight nieces and nephews with whom I get to have fun and drive their parents a little crazy. I am also pursuing my doctorate here at UIS and look for opportunities to research where climate issues can be addressed through technological interventions.

Who’s someone who has had a significant impact on your life?

I grew up with a six-foot-tall, Irish, red-headed jazz musician grandfather. He saw the world in a beautiful way, with unique perspectives that have stayed with me my entire life. My mom was a Sunday school teacher and vice president for large international companies when women in management were not common. My mom is kind while still having a “get it done” attitude that I find inspiring and use in my daily life.

What is your favorite travel destination and why?

Washington state, and more specifically the Seattle area, is beautiful. I remember seeing the ocean for the first time when I was 7 and looking off a pier, seeing all the amazing sea creatures I had read about in books and saw at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. I then had a snowball fight with my sisters on Mt. Rainier in mid-July later that day. Then we picked wild blackberries on our way home and made blackberry pies from scratch. The ocean, mountains, and beautiful nature have kept Washington state my favorite place.

Do most consider you a morning bird or a night owl?

Much to the dismay of my sisters, and probably some of my coworkers, I am a morning person through and through. I am usually ready to go first thing and much prefer getting things done early in the day. This also means I never developed a taste for coffee since I didn’t need the morning pick-me-up.

---

Getting to Know You is recurring feature in the Chancellor's Newsletter to highlight our many talented UIS employees.