Each month, Get to Know… will feature two members of UT System Administration’s talented and diverse staff as they offer insights into their lives in and out of the office. Each new edition will be published here. This week,
Justin Tam
Office of Risk Management
Senior Application Development Analys
What do you most enjoy about your job?
I enjoy serving others. The mission of leading, guiding and supporting the UT institutions, thereby assisting in the education of future generations and the health of Texans, is a noble one.
What advice would you give someone who is new to UT System?
Joining such a prestigious organization such as UT System can seem daunting. As long as we stay focused on our mission of improving the health and education of Texas, I think that service-oriented mindset can carry us through many of the obstacles we may face. Believe in yourself, believe in your team, learn to communicate well with your peers, constantly seek to improve yourself, your team and the organization, and you will find success and opportunities that will change yourself, and then the world.
What is a fact about you that may surprise your colleagues?
I am a hereditary count of the former Qing dynasty, though the overthrow of the empire in 1911 and our clan's subsequent losses during Japan's invasion significantly diminished any significance that title may have held.
What is a book or movie that has inspired you – and why?
Star Wars. Growing up the only Asian kid amongst my peers had its own set of challenges. Growing up poor in a single parent home had another set of challenges. Star Wars gave me hope during hard times and allowed me to dream beyond the limitations of the Texas countryside.
What do you do to disconnect or de-stress?
To de-stress, I like to watch movies, play and make computer games, volunteer around town, kayak on Lady Bird Lake and practice yoga.
