We Are IT | Meet Margaret Gleman
Margaret Gleman is a Data Engineer with the Data & Analytics team. She works with campus partners to support their needs and turn FSU’s enterprise data into practical insights. With nine years of experience at FSU, Margaret has participated in many meaningful projects. Her recent work migrating Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) — also known as MyFSU BI — to a new server was particularly fulfilling. The project also deepened her expertise in server-side architecture.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Austin, Texas, but New Orleans, Louisiana will always be where I say I’m from. It was my first duty station in the Navy, and it’s where I met the love of my life, got married and started to build my family. We did eventually move away, but New Orleans will always hold a very special place in my heart.
Where did you attend school?
I received hands-on technical training as an Information Systems Technician (IT) in the U.S. Navy, taking specialized rating courses and earning an associate’s degree from San Diego City College. I later took classes at the University of New Orleans, but when Hurricane Katrina hit, my education was put on hold. I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded by incredible people who have mentored me throughout my career, and I do attribute my knowledge to them. At the same time, I can’t wait to earn my bachelor's degree one day.
Why did you choose to work in technology?
I enlisted in the Navy as an undesignated sailor because I wasn’t sure which career path to follow. Luckily, I was assigned to the Enlisted Personnel Management Center (EPMAC) in New Orleans. My role involved managing and updating active-duty personnel records in complex systems. This gave me my very first taste of building fleet manning reports, which were delivered all the way to leadership in Washington, D.C. Seeing firsthand how data could drive high-level decision-making sparked my passion and ignited my career in the IT and data field, which has now spanned 30 years.
How long have you been at FSU?
This is my ninth year at Florida State University and in ITS!
What is your role at FSU ITS?
As a Data Engineer and part of the Data & Analytics team, I like to think of myself as a bit of a "data detective." I work closely with campus partners to ask the right questions, investigate their specific needs and turn FSU’s enterprise data into clear, actionable insights. Once we unpack those needs, I design scalable data solutions using myFSU BI, Power BI dashboards and Snowflake, which can be leveraged across campus.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love the problem-solving aspect of my job and collaborating directly with campus partners. I truly believe that brings together different minds and invites fresh ideas, sparks creativity and leads to better, faster solutions for everyone involved.
What is the most rewarding project you have worked on at FSU?
There are many projects I’ve worked on that are rewarding in their own way, especially in the data and reporting space. However, a recent standout has been migrating our Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) -- also known as MyFSU BI -- environment to a new server running RHEL 8, is scheduled to go live next month. With the lower environments now successfully migrated, I had to dive in, reverse engineer complex configurations and coordinate across multiple teams. Mastering the server-side architecture from end to end and guiding this migration toward a seamless rollout has been exceptionally fulfilling.
What is your favorite app?
AI assistants! They are changing how we work and solve problems, streamlining our daily routines and making complex tasks much more efficient.
If you were to invent one piece of technology, what would it be?
I’d invent the SpidyVoom, a smart robotic vacuum with Spider-Man powers! It would scan the house for dust and pet hair, vacuum the floors, climb walls and even dust furniture and shelves. Instead of looking for dust myself, SpidyVoom would hunt it down. No floor, wall, shelf or pet-hair tumbleweed would be safe!
What is a fun fact about you?
In the late ‘90s, a pilot let me sit in the pilot’s seat of an old cargo plane and take control for a bit. I can say I’ve technically flown a cargo plane -- just don’t ask me to land one!
What do you do in your free time?
I enjoy traveling with my family, seeing live music and spending as much time outdoors as I can. I love exploring trails and collecting rocks. I also spend time going to the beach and hunting for treasures like shark teeth, sea glass and fossilized marine bones. There’s something exciting about never knowing what you might discover in nature.