This month’s HEUG Famous spotlight shines on Chris Lopac, Assistant Director of Systems within the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. With over a decade of experience in the UW System, Chris has not only grown his career in higher education IT but has also been a dedicated contributor to the HEUG community. From serving on multiple advisory groups to now chairing the GT eForms Advisory Group, Chris’s passion for collaboration and knowledge-sharing is evident. In this Q&A, he shares his journey, favorite memories, and how HEUG has become his go-to partner in problem-solving.
Where do you work? How long have you been there?
I’m currently an Assistant Director of Systems within the Office of Student Financial Aid, with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I’ve been at UW-Madison, as well as the entire UW System for a combined 12 years – I started when my wife was 8 months pregnant with our first child, so it’s an easy way to remember how long I’ve been here!
Are you working on-site, remotely, or hybrid? What has that experience been like for you?
I have been given the opportunity to work in almost a completely hybrid environment, which I feel best suits the IT industry. I remember being onsite, juggling schedules and scrambling for a limited conference room—now people can connect almost instantly.
What Student or ERP system do you work in, and what modules do you primarily work with?
In my current role, I work within the Financial Aid module of the Student Information System, where I have the opportunity to work closely with an incredibly talented Developer team.
Previously, I worked as a Business Analyst within the HCM system where I spent time in HR, Payroll, TAM, and Finance at the UW System.
When did you get involved with HEUG? How did that happen?
My first Alliance was in Seattle 2016. Only a few team members could go from our organization, so I thought it might be the only time I could attend. I was blown away by the amount of knowledge being shared openly. In the past, I had spent time in the private sector, so joining higher ed and this user group in particular, where ideas are openly shared, it lit a fire in me to help others as well.
In what capacities have you been involved with HEUG?
My organization sees how valuable the HEUG is and with that, has encouraged me to be active with the organization. Over the last 6 years, I’ve had the opportunity to:
- Serve a term on the Campus Community / CARS Advisory Group
- Volunteer on the Advisory Group Task Force where we added additional structure for advisory groups and communities of practice
- Currently serve as the Chair of the new GT eForms Advisory Group
My time in the advisory groups has allowed me the opportunity to meet some incredible people, who I will have lifetime friendships with. I’m thankful for all the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with over the years – they all care so much about helping others and are making a difference in this world.
Do you have a favorite or meaningful story regarding your time in HEUG?
After each Alliance I take time to reflect on the conversations I had at Alliance, sometimes work related, other times just getting to know a colleague across the country better. I think about the knowledgeable presentations, I think about all the effort the HEUG team puts into making the conference a success – all that pushes me to continue helping out.
What has been your favorite conference location? Why?
Easiest question so far – Phoenix! I love seeing all the various locations, but I would 100% be on board with the conference being in Phoenix forever. The conference center, the location, the weather…Phoenix is a degree or two warmer than Wisconsin at the end of February/early March!
What is your first HEUG related memory?
So many HEUG memories – I guess the first one would have to be attending MidHEUG, when we had the regional conferences in the fall. Looking back, I had no idea what HEUG had to offer back then – I simply was just attending a conference, unaware of all the opportunities – opportunities to learn, to share, and to network with others who face the same challenges.
What is YOUR value proposition for HEUG?
HEUG is my AI, HEUG is my query expert, HEUG is my partner in finding solutions to all my issues. HEUG makes members feel like you aren’t tackling a solution on your own, but instead you have an entire team on your side of peers from all across the world! Chances are the problem you are facing has been experienced by somebody else across HEUG – so leverage the resources available!
Do you have a work-related philosophy you would like to share?
My mom unexpectedly passed away 8 years ago and right after she passed, I came across a photo she had taken of a quote by Charles Swindoll – it has stuck with me since and I try to live this:
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.”
What new app/technology/platform is intriguing to you right now?
AI! I feel like that’s the answer AI would have given if I threw that prompt in. AI will continue to evolve and as leaders in IT, it is our responsibility to be aware of AI – it’s Pros and Cons, where it can help us be more productive and where it is lacking. New AI tools seem to pop up almost nightly now and we need to be ready to understand what is out there and treat as opportunities as well as vulnerabilities.
Is there some new technology/program/application that you want to learn more about? We will be doing an Explainer blog later in the year, and your suggestions will help guide our choices.
With all the AI tools out there, I think an AI productivity tool series could be helpful for users (I’m not able to provide any helpful sessions/content though 😊)
A big thank you to Chris for sharing his story, insights, and wisdom with the HEUG community. His reflections remind us of the value of connection, collaboration, and the importance of attitude in the work we do every day. We’re grateful for his leadership and continued contributions that help make HEUG stronger. Stay tuned for next month’s HEUG Famous feature—and don’t forget, you could be nominated next!
Want to connect with Chris? Visit his HEUG profile or connect with him on LinkedIn.