Rusty Howell ’95 MPPM ’98 returns to the Hilltop in a new role, but he’s not at all new to Birmingham-Southern.

Following his years as a student, multiple roles in the College’s IT department, and a few years away, Howell rejoined the Birmingham-Southern team as assistant vice president for information technology in April.

He comes to the College from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, an international medical association dedicated to advancing the research and practice of reproductive medicine. Howell served as director of information technology and managed the organization’s infrastructure, website and enterprise systems, and other technology needs. Prior to this role, he spent more than 17 years working in BSC’s IT department, defining the majority of his career in technology leadership.

Howell now leads BSC’s technology infrastructure efforts and works to provide service, networking, computer hardware, software, and other equipment all around campus. We asked him six questions to learn more about him and his role at BSC.

Tell us what you’re looking forward to in your new role.

I have an amazing team of very capable and talented professionals, and I’m excited to be working with them. Also, it’s wonderful to reconnect with the school and to see what has changed and what has stayed the same over the years. Connecting with people I haven’t seen in a while has been a lot of fun too. It’s a wonderful place, and I would love nothing more than for my daughter to attend BSC. She’s a straight-A student and heavily involved in dance and ballet. I told her that BSC is a very demanding school and that she must stay focused!

What is your favorite thing about Birmingham?

Birmingham is a culturally rich city, and I think many out-of-state visitors don’t realize it. I’ve met with business partners over the years who have asked what they should do while they’re here. I’ve always suggested that they visit major Birmingham landmarks, restaurants, etc., and they always call me later to say what a wonderful time they had and that they never knew what they were missing.

Do you have a favorite BSC memory?

As a student, I remember how the faculty and staff pushed me to my limits, in every way. Being challenged inside and outside of the classroom – to do my best, to step outside of my comfort zone – was what really kept me motivated. I remember being in an orientation session as a transfer student and hearing Dr. Judith Cox, professor emeritus of German, tell us that as young adults it may be uncomfortable for us to pursue things that are not familiar to us, but we should always be curious and be willing to take on new challenges. The message stuck with me.

What are you watching or listening to lately?

I’m a little behind on the podcast “Reply All,” but I recommend it to anyone who likes “How could this have happened?” stories. The Guardian describes it as “A podcast about the internet that is actually an unfailingly original exploration of modern life and how to survive it.” Some of the stories that are described leave you scratching your head. It’s worth your time if you like a podcast that tends to run off the beaten path. I’m also really enjoying what Disney is doing with the Marvel universe. Lots of good stuff there.

What advice would you give to an incoming BSC student?

Always be curious about the world around you. You have the world’s knowledge at your fingertips, but take care that you learn from credible and reputable sources.

Read all that you can make time for, even if it’s something that doesn’t really interest you. You never know what you may get out of the experience. When I was a senior in high school, we had a series of mock interviews with the owner of a national publishing agency. He was very successful and grilled us on just about everything in a matter of minutes. He read over my profile, looked up at me and asked, “This is all great, but do you read anything out of the classroom?” As a 17-year-old, that was a teachable moment.

Without sacrificing your academic performance, get a job. Learn about customer service. My first real job was a combination of inside and corporate sales on a part-time basis for a national computer firm. I did everything from closing corporate deals to cleaning the dust off the shelves. Service skills will benefit you in any walk of life.