ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

FEBRUARY  2015

Damon Lindsay '92

What encouraged you to attend Longwood University?

My initial interest in Longwood was due to the Dual Degree Engineering Program.  I was also comfortable with Longwood's size and location.  I didn't want to be a number to my professors and due to its proximity to friends at other schools and home the Central Virginia location was also a plus.  Once I visited Longwood's Campus I knew it was the place for me and after a couple of semesters decided to change my major and stay at Longwood for the full term.

What was your favorite class and who was your favorite professor? Why?

Picking a favorite professor is a very difficult task as there are quite a few that I really enjoyed; including Dean and Christine Palmer, Dr. Jack Jacques, Dr. Wayne McWee, and Dr. Richard Couture.  My favorite class was definitely Financial Management because it put all of the pieces of previous classes together to see the bigger picture.  Although I was not a history major, I would have to say that Dr. Couture was probably my favorite professor due to his antics in class.  He was constantly having us question whether what we had been taught about history in the primary grades was actually true and the reasoning or ulterior motives behind it.

What campus organizations were you involved in and which was your favorite?

I was involved in a few campus organizations including the American Marketing Association, the Finance Club, and also sat on a student advisory committee with Liberty University.  I also worked with the Campus Police escorting students around Campus when they were not comfortable doing so alone.  The majority of my activities on and off campus were with my Delta Sigma Pi brothers which I would also have to say was my favorite.

How did your education from Longwood prepare you for your career in Enterprise Resource Planning?

Longwood prepared me for my career by providing classes and professors that taught both micro and macro levels of detail and thinking methodologies.  As the name implies, Enterprise Resource Planning is highly integrated and when blueprinting high level and detailed business processes, it is extremely important to know the impact to all areas of the business.

Longwood is full of history and traditions. What is your favorite Longwood tradition and why?

Although I have fond memories of Chi and Oktoberfest, I would have to say that the Dining Hall traditions in general are my favorite.  I remember the outdoor dinners, the Birthday dinners, and other special events as a time that made me feel less homesick and a chance to visit and meet people that I may not have otherwise.

If you could share one piece of advice with current students, what would it be?

Practice as many ways to learn as you can.  Like your Professors, Supervisors and Clients will have many ways of communicating their requirements.  The more ways you have to interpret these requirements the easier it will be to discern what they are truly asking from you.  Most employers I know (Federal ERP included) are willing to train someone in a field other than their major (or background) that has the ability to learn quickly and shows self-motivation. If you already have the basic skills for the job that is an added bonus that will help you stand out.

Has being a Longwood graduate had any other impacts on your life? If so, in what ways?

A very important lesson I learned at Longwood that has a direct impact on my life every day is the realization that no matter how good you are at something you can always learn something more.  Once you believe you know more than everyone else you will quickly become obsolete.  Rather than becoming complacent, expand your knowledge in related areas.