We Are IT | Meet Dongmei Gao

Dongmei Gao was born in Beijing, China, and moved to the United States in 1996 when her husband pursued his degree at Florida State University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in China before completing a master’s in computer science at FSU. Since 2003, Dongmei has been a part of FSU’s Information Technology Services, where she currently works as an ERP Analyst III, specializing in developing key applications for the university community. Outside of work, she enjoys singing in a group that performs Chinese songs, practicing martial arts and tai chi, and spending time with her family.

Where are you from?

I was born in Beijing, China and moved to the United States in 1996 when my husband pursued his degree at FSU.

Where did you attend school?

While living in China, I completed my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. After relocating to the U.S., I earned my master’s degree in computer science here at FSU.

Why did you choose to work in technology?

When I was little, I always enjoyed engineering activities and inventing things. So, after I completed my mechanical engineering degree, I was able to put my design skills to use when I started working in software.

How long have you been at FSU?

I started working at FSU in 2003 as a developer. Over the years, I have worked with numerous coding languages, including Java, C and now PeopleSoft.

What is your role at FSU?

My official title is ERP Analyst III. While some ERP analysts focus on the business side, I work on the development team. As a developer, I work on the apps that the FSU community uses, such as the myFSU Human Resources, Financials and Campus Solutions software.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

My job allows me to engage in my passions and interests. I enjoy designing apps and problem solving, which I can implement when building applications and doing bug fixes. I also love working with my team and colleagues. Everybody is nice and is always there to help each other. FSU truly is the best place to work. We are encouraged to keep learning by going to conferences and I even got to present at several of these conferences, which was an exciting opportunity.

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

The most rewarding project I worked on was developing the FSUID system many years ago. This was back when the system didn’t even exist yet, and I had the chance to collaborate with other developers to build it from the ground up. I also really enjoyed building an application for the form approval workflow. This project transformed having to get manual signed forms into an online form approval process.

What is your favorite app?

My favorite apps that I have been using lately are AI photo generator apps. They’re fun because I can generate random images and even put my face on them, resulting in some hilarious creations.

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

I would create something that could switch between different energy sources. If we could switch from regular power to solar or wind energy when needed, that would be extremely handy in the event of hurricanes. Or, when we lose internet or Wi-Fi, it would be great if we could connect directly to satellites as a backup (just found that this already exists in iOS18!).

What is a fun fact about you?

Something you may not know about me is that I sing in a group that performs Chinese songs. It’s a fun way to get together, meet new people and enjoy our culture.

Talk a little bit about your family.

I am married to my husband Jack, and we have a daughter Belle. We are all FSU alumni, and it has been a great bonding experience for us. The culture and environment around us have made Tallahassee a great place to live.

What do you do in your free time?

In my free time, I practice martial arts and tai chi. I first got into the sport when a friend of mine was a Kung Fu master in China and he got everybody to learn Tai Chai and I loved it, so I joined a club.