Meet Dana Graham!   Dana has no idea that she is being featured on this “Day in the Life”, so she will be surprised when she sees this.  We thought you would all enjoy getting to know more about Dana and the types of things that keep her busy during the day. 

First, let’s start with some background info and her absolute love for her university.  Dana is a Michigan State University graduate and she’s a die-hard Spartan fan.  While she can be found in the stands rooting for almost any MSU team, her true love is the MSU Men’s Basketball team.  She has tutored players through some of their tougher courses, her family hosts an annual dinner for the Spartan basketball team, and she has traveled to far-off places like San Antonio to watch her favorite basketball team play.  Tom Izzo wouldn’t know what to do if Dana wasn’t in the stands, especially since she is a “craft” queen and makes some of the slickest signs you’ve ever seen.  Her “Sparty like it’s 1979” sign was recently shown on ESPN during “retro” night.

At work, Dana stays busy keeping TechTalk (our Intranet) up to date with new information.   She posts new information on our Intranet every day, including file correspondence, articles of interest, news in the “What’s Happening” area, policies and procedures, updated organization charts, and everything else that you see on TechTalk.  She is currently working to build a comprehensive Human Resources area on TechTalk.  Dana administers the “Ask and Answer” discussion forum, helping employees get registered for the forum and keeping the forum running smoothly.  She is the department’s resident photographer as well, something that serves her well as she does the research and stories for each and every “Day in the Life” feature.

Special emergency assignments seem to arise daily, especially in communications.  Dana can often be found writing news releases on short deadline, creating PowerPoint presentations for Director Takai’s speaking engagements, whipping together a poster to promote an event, quickly assembling legislative information on representatives or senators, or designing an award for an employee.

Dana administers the DIT Service web site designed to provide information to our client agencies.   She also administers the DIT Internet site seen by the public, although lack of time has not permitted much attention to the site.  She is currently serving on several interview committees, utilizing targeted selection to help hire DIT employees. 

Dana coordinates numerous other special projects, including Michigan Week, Daughters and Sons to Work Day, the Harvest Gathering, the on-line holiday auction, and DIT blood drives.   The department is truly lucky to have her.  Her skills and talents help make the department a better place.  Thank you Dana…and SURPRISE!