Hayley Smith
Editor-in-Chief
Who hasn’t had the dream to drop everything they have and travel around the country in an RV? Well, for Vice President of Information Technology/Chief Information Officer Tom Erwin, after retirement, that dream is going to become a reality.
Erwin has been around Butler Community College since he took classes here in 1974. He was first employed by Butler in 1985 and has enjoyed his time here since then.
“It’s been a great place for me to grow up, both personally and professionally… it has just been home,” Erwin said. “It’s been very comfortable, and I have gotten the opportunity to do so many different things and to be involved in so many different activities. Hopefully I had an impact and made student lives better here.”
Erwin has had many jobs at Butler since he was first employed in 1985. He started working as the first full time advisor at McConnell. Following, he was an international advisor and vocational advisor in El Dorado. He was the division chair of instructional support, and he eventually earned a dean position and found interest in information technology. He took over his current role in 1998. He truly has seen a little bit of every side of the college.
“I have worked in the student service side, I’ve worked in academics, I worked remote at some of the outreach sites, so I have a pretty good understanding of the college,” Erwin said. “I tell people I was able to have multiple careers at one institution.”
His current role is to oversee all of the technology at Butler. In his years at Butler, Erwin has seen a variety of changes at the school.
“The institution was about 3,500 students when I started, so it’s about 9,200 students today,” Erwin said. “I’ve seen it almost triple…it’s been fun to grow, and it has been fun to watch it grow and be involved in that.”
Erwin has been very thankful for his time at the college.
“I have been incredibly fortunate,” Erwin said. “I have worked with incredible colleagues from across the institution. I have great friends, and it was just a great place to be.”
In his time at Butler, Erwin has truly seen that the school is family.
“It is family,” Erwin said. “You realize that when something comes up, and your family supports you, whether it might be a health concern, or the birth of a grandchild. I have watched people grow up with me, (and) I’ve watched people leave through retirement and other things.”
After retirement, Erwin plans to simply travel around in an RV with his wife. He has plans to learn how to fly fish, find some great riding trails and improve in his digital photography skills.
“We want to just travel,” Erwin said. “See new places, learn about new cultures, meet new people, new foods, just experience North America and Canada.”
Erwin has been a face around Butler for many years, and he will be a face all around the United States when he and his wife begin their travels.
