Joe Willson

What is your position at UNC-Chapel Hill, and how long have you been associated with the University?

My position at UNC-Chapel Hill is the Facilities Services Safety Officer. I have been with the University for eight months.

How did you initiate your career in this field or what led you to your current position?

I initiated my career in this field through attending Keene State College where I completed a triple degree in Safety and Occupational Health Applied Sciences, Environmental Studies and Sustainability Studies. During the completion of my degrees, I worked in various on campus positions. These included both as an air quality research assistant and as a safety intern. The culmination of these experiences led me to my current position here at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Which sectors of the University does your role impact, and in what ways does it contribute to those areas of work?

My role directly impacts those in Facilities as I do my best to improve the safety and wellbeing of their lives at work. These contributions come in the form of training, inspections, investigations, providing resources and seeking ways to improve safety programs within Facilities. Indirectly, my role influences numerous sectors on campus as a result of the widespread impact of Facilities on campus. It is the people within Facilities that are out every day making a difference maintaining and enhancing the campus to be the clean, functional and beautiful place that we all get to enjoy.

Describe what you love most about your job.

The thing that I love most about my job is getting to work with people and helping to keep them safe. I vastly enjoy problem solving to find safety solutions, educating others about safety through training, but mostly the feeling that I get when knowing I worked with someone to help them feel and be safer when they come to work each day. The most interesting aspect of my job is the widespread nature of Facilities. I feel that I am constantly learning, seeing and experiencing new things within my role making each day a little different and continuously enthralling.

What advice do you have for those interested in entering a career in your line of work?

My advice to those interested in entering a career in safety is to get involved and to care. Any experience that you can gain is useful and valuable. I attribute my preparation for this role to my education in safety but equally so to the positions I held in and outside of school that gave me confidence and practical skills. Along with gaining experience, the most important thing is to care. Care about your education and the experiences you gain in order to make them useful and meaningful. Care about the work you do each day and strive for it to be your best. Most importantly, care about the people that your work impacts to help all people in your organization feel safe and supported.