Kacey Close: Turning part-time college job into a necessary position for SOVA

	Kacey Close, computer support specialist for the School of Visual Arts, designed a minimalist style black and white web page for the school.

Any visitor to the School of Visual Arts' web site can't help but notice its black and white motif with oversized block letters spelling "ART," which almost seem to overpower the viewer.

Kacey Close, computer support specialist for the school, is especially proud of the SOVA site he designed two years ago. It is just one example of his artistic passion for visualizing concepts for others.

Close, a UNT graduate, has essentially held his job since 1996 when he was a student pursuing a degree in radio, television and film. The part-time job was only meant to help pay some bills during college, but he excelled so rapidly that it developed into the full-time position he has held since his graduation in 1999.

Don Schol, associate dean of the School of Visual Arts, says Close's dependability and problem-solving skills make him a much-needed asset in maintaining the general-access computer lab in the Art Building.

"It's extremely demanding given all the complex software packages that are needed for students," Schol says. "Kacey also does a lot to support faculty. We depend on him."

When Close isn't solving computer glitches, he spends a lot of time listening to all types of non-mainstream music — mostly electronic tunes and film scores — watching movies and building web pages for fun.

Close, who was born in Rhode Island and raised in Connecticut, also joins friends in role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons — a hobby he got hooked on more than 20 years ago.

Most of his interests are centered on artistic expression and imagination, which are qualities that could lead him to his dream job of working on a major motion picture someday. His other aspirations include making a trip to the British Isles, Australia or New Zealand and owning a darkroom to develop photos.

"I wish there was an eighth day of the week to do stuff that I want, instead of stuff that I have to do," Close says.

In the meantime, he and his wife, Heather, whom he met at Bruce Hall seven years ago, are settling into a new home they bought last summer. With more living space, the couple was finally able to get a dog, Ia, and had more room for Heather's three cats, Tashi, Asgar and Tem.

"We're really proud of the fact that we like Denton enough to actually buy our first home here," Close says. "It's pretty much been the biggest thing in our lives recently."

BY ELIZABETH DEL TORO paiswri1@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• UNT's first vice president for research and technology transfer named
• Promoting a safe spring break
• Regents assess new parking rates for 2003-04 school year
• North Texas Jazz Festival set April 4-6 in Addison
• The First Great UNT Cleanup
• Pohl talks to Faculty Senate about budget
• How the HIPAA privacy rule affects UNT researchers
• University, Honors, Alumni days in April
• Chicago will be talk of town at Academy Awards, film historian says
• Changes coming to UNT faculty election process

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