![Man standing outside](https://news.clas.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/012325_Bradley-Harwood_Exterior_EDITED_27-1.jpg)
Bradley Harwood. Photo by Michel Thomas.
CLAS Staff Spotlight: Bradley Harwood
IT project manager celebrates 25 years with UF
Bradley Harwood’s career trajectory is a testament to adaptability, versatility, a deep commitment to his work in information technology and educational support. As IT project manager with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Harwood is celebrating his 25th year with the University of Florida.
Harwood has advanced his career at UF by leveraging a benefit available to UF academic and TEAMS employees, the Employee Education Program, that provided tuition assistance for both a bachelor’s and master’s degree.
A self-described “Air Force brat,” Harwood grew up in Japan, Virginia, and lived in Panama City, Florida twice before calling it home. But it was not UF that brought Harwood to Gainesville, it was his love of music.
In the late 1990s, Harwood was a disk jockey and event promoter, working many of the clubs located just off the UF campus. A fan of electronic music, Harwood formed his own business that contracted up to 10 other deejays at clubs around town.
![man with music control panel](https://news.clas.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/bradharwood_simons-nightclub-gnv-1.jpg)
“I started deejaying when vinyl records were still the main medium,” he said. “I’ve been through the transition to digital, which took place in the early 2000s as MP3s became more prevalent. I still deejay frequently at private gatherings, just not as often in the clubs these days.”
As deejay jobs became more sporadic, a friend made him aware of an opening at UF, providing technical support for campus computer labs with CLAS. At the time, Harwood worked in support of the student computer labs on campus. As he took on more responsibilities, his role grew from basic desktop support to becoming an IT system administrator. He has worked closely with faculty during onboarding, as well as helping them navigate research technology budgets. He has helped departments with digital signage projects, outlining the specifications and build out of conference rooms, so his reach and experience has been broad and deep.
Today, as an IT project manager, Harwood oversees special projects but also bridges the gap between technical needs and implementation. Many key achievements have stemmed from Harwood’s work with Student Technology Fee Grants. Implemented in Fall 2009, Student Technology Fee Grants are used to enhance instructional technology services and infrastructure for students and faculty for the university.
Awarded four tech fee grants while at UF, Harwood’s contributions include the creation of a video production system for streaming and recording interactive live events and a revamp of the sound systems in Pugh and Ustler Halls. More recently, he is working together with Professor and Geography Chair Jane Southworth on a significant project for the geography department, the OmniGlobe Initiative.
This project involves the purchase and implementation cutting-edge technology designed to revolutionize teaching in geography, earth science, and meteorology, with additional benefits to anthropology and astronomy. Upon completion, a newly designed classroom in the basement of Turlington Hall will have a capacity for 40-49 students to experience interactive learning, collaboration, and engagement that is unparalleled.
“My work with tech fee grant projects has been the most rewarding,” Harwood said. “Seeing a project through completion and then used by faculty and students is very satisfying.”
While firmly establishing his professional career, Harwood has also found a new passion in continuing his own education at UF. As part of UF’s Employee Education Program (EEP), he not only received his bachelor’s in anthropology, but also earned his master’s degree in December 2024.
“It took me about eight years to finish my undergraduate in anthropology while I was working full-time,” said Harwood.
His educational path was unconventional, taking time to explore different disciplines, but ultimately, his curiosity and commitment to continuous learning paved the way for his current success. Harwood’s recent masters was not only for personal growth but also strategically aligned with his career, especially considering how the job market values further education.
“It’s very important to stay relevant,” he says of his decision to continue his education.
Harwood credits the environment of UF with his renewed value of education. “There’s something about being around the learning environment, being surrounded by forward-thinking people that has changed my whole life view – I fell in love with academia,” Harwood said.
When asked about the future, Harwood doesn’t focus on a singular goal but rather the potential of his current trajectory. “I love what I do here, and as long as I can continue to do that, I’m happy,” he said. For Harwood, it’s less about chasing an elusive big picture career and more about building upon what he’s contributed to his colleagues.
Harwood’s support network is also a significant factor in his journey. He credits his manager, Ken Sallot, IT director within CLAS, for his mentorship and encouragement.
“Ken really helped me understand how to navigate my career and education in a way that was both professional and fulfilling,” he said. Harwood also noted the support of leadership like Associate Dean Margaret Fields and the promotion of collaboration within the college.
“Brad has successfully secured nearly $300,000 in grants to enhance the college’s technological infrastructure,” Fields said, adding, “His contributions have been instrumental in transforming the college’s ability to engage with others, most notably through the integration of multimedia capabilities at the Bob Graham Center and the modernization of numerous conference and presentation rooms across the college. Remarkably, he achieved all of this while pursuing his studies at the University of Florida, ultimately earning a master’s degree in Information Systems and Operations Management.”
Whether through his career, education, or music, Harwood exemplifies how pursuing your passions and continuously striving for growth can result in a fulfilling, dynamic life. As he continues to contribute to the growing needs of the university, one thing is certain, Harwood is just getting started.
Staff contributions are crucial to the success and continued growth of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. We would like to highlight individuals throughout the year as examples of the breadth, creativity and talent of our team. If you know someone you would like to suggest for a profile, please email commsupport@clas.ufl.edu.