We Are IT | Meet Gia McCue

Born in St. Louis and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Gia McCue now lives in Utah. She holds a bachelor's degree in art history from the University of Florida and a second bachelor’s degree in math education from Florida State University. Prior to working in technology, Gia was a high-school math teacher. Since 2012, Gia has served as an application developer at FSU’s College of Medicine. She builds web-based tools that support HR, student scheduling, and evaluation systems, collaborating closely with faculty to improve efficiency and user experience. Outside of work, Gia enjoys hiking, bird watching, and exploring the outdoors with her husband Mike. 

Where are you from?  

I was born in St. Louis and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, when I was six years old. A few years ago, I moved to the beautiful state of Utah. 

Where did you attend school?  

I earned my bachelor’s in art history from the University of Florida. Then, I received my bachelor’s in math education from FSU.  

Why did you choose to work in technology? 

My father was always into technology and understanding how things worked. He was an early adopter to computers before they became personal computers and even had a mainframe at his office. Thus, my interest was sparked at a young age from being around my father. Then, after working as a teacher for five years, I rekindled my passion for technology and transitioned into web development. 

How long have you been at FSU?  

Since 2012. It’s hard to believe I have been working here for almost 13 years. 

What is your role at FSU?  

Application Developer. I work on the custom application team for FSU’s College of Medicine (COM). I build web-based applications to help streamline various processes for COM, including HR, Student Scheduling and evaluations. My team and I work with faculty for any needs they may have.  

What do you enjoy most about your job?  

My favorite part about my job is when people come to me with processes that are either cumbersome or not clearly defined. I love collaborating with them to develop streamlined solutions that make their work easier. Whether it’s assisting colleagues or students, I really enjoy helping people. 

What is the most rewarding project you have worked on at FSU?  

Any project I’ve had the opportunity to sink my teeth into has been a rewarding experience. 

What is your favorite app?  

My favorite app is iNaturalist/Seek. It’s an app that uses your phone camera to identify plants and animals. It’s a crowd-sourced database that tracks species across the world. I really enjoy it because it records the data and location of any species posted which can help with tracking common species, invasive species or species that people thought may no longer exist in an area. 

If you were to invent one piece of technology, what would it be? 

I’d design something that helps with the conservation of natural resources. 

What is a fun fact about you?     

I am passionate about art and working with my hands. I work with various mediums, including glass and pottery, and I’m currently focused on hand-building pottery inspired by Indigenous ceramic traditions. 

Talk a little bit about your family. 

My husband, Mike, and I have been married for nearly 32 years. My mother was an artist, and my father was a builder/tinker. Their love of art and creating greatly influenced my passions as well.  

What do you do in your free time? 

Anything involving the outdoors. My husband and I enjoy hiking, exploring and bird watching whenever we have the chance.