Kayla Murrill found her way into the IT field by chance through her customer service background. Though she did not grow up living and breathing technology, Kayla was looking for a career change and pursued an opportunity when she joined ITS nearly eight years ago as a technology support specialist. Day-to-day, she still plays a strong customer support role solving technical problems for people across the university and genuinely enjoys helping people. Outside of work, you may find her gardening, tending to her pet chickens or hiking trails.

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Tallahassee, but I have lived all over the south. My parents moved a lot when we were kids, so I lived in Georgia and Texas too. I made my way back to Tallahassee in 2012.

Where did you attend school?

I went to many different schools, but I’ll name one that local people are familiar with: Lincoln High School.

Why did you choose to work in technology?

I took the opportunity to learn a new trade. At the time, I was working for a retail establishment and struck up a conversation with a lady who was in need of assistance. She asked me, “What do you think about technology? Do you want to learn something new?”

I called my boss that day and said, “I have an opportunity, and it is something I want to pursue.”

How long have you been at FSU?

I started in 2014.

What is your role at FSU?

My team and I support university services. We sleuth out and fix technical issues. If there happens to be no problem-of-the-moment, there are always projects we are working on, such as documentation, ITS communications and team enhancement.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy helping people. When people need tech assistance, they usually are hindered from completing important tasks, so when they call, their stress level is through the roof. By the time we are done, they are working again or are heading in the right direction.

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

I‘ll have to say when we first went to remote work, our team was tasked with assisting the Counseling & Psychological Services department with remote devices and phone service setup. The counselors could not be without computers and phones. We quickly made provisions to ensure counselors were online and available through their preferred online contact method. We were ready to answer questions as we made the transition.

That was probably the most rewarding project because the people on the other end of the counseling sessions really needed it. At the beginning of the pandemic, it was crazy; people were scared. Counseling & Psychological Services was incredibly needed. It was a critical moment, and we wanted to help as quickly as we could.

Other than your cellphone, what is your go-to, can't-live-without piece of tech?

A computer. Get me to the internet!

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

Probably a water filtration and restructuring device.

What is a fun fact about you?

I would rather go on vacation to the mountains than to the beach. I am definitely a go-to-the-woods, go-to-the-mountains kind of person.

Talk a little bit about your family.

I have a big family, so anytime I am around family, I am around a bunch of family. I’m also the new mom to three pet chickens.

What do you do in your free time?

I am a nature person. I enjoy hiking trails and am an avid gardener. I enjoy projects with my friends to fix up their garden spaces too.

I also enjoy cooking. I learned to cook from scratch in 2020, and can better prepare food from the garden. Soups are my favorite with a slice of sourdough. Any kind of soup. You name it, I want to make it—bone broths, ramen, stews. If you have a good soup recipe, send it my way!