When Liz Mormak joined the Identity Access Management group (IAM) as a Department Administrator eight years ago, her role was to support the IAM Director and manage the day-to-day administrative operations and procedures of the department with a large focus on attending meetings, budgets and metrics. She was learning the ins and outs of the access control system to provide back-up support to that manager, when five months into Mormak’s tenure her manager resigned for another opportunity, and this would open a pathway for Mormak and the start of her career in IAM.

At that time, IAM handled access control and ID card technologies for all campuses and off campus locations throughout the state. Mormak was easily absorbing her added job duties when the department’s associate director moved on. As a result, Mormak was asked to handle ID cards, as well. In 2019, Security System Technologies merged with IAM growing IAM’s umbrella to include ID card technologies, access control, closed circuit television systems, intrusion and panic alarms, locks and keys, and door repairs. Mormak, again, picked up more responsibilities. In December 2023, Mormak was promoted to Manager. 

“Liz has tremendous responsibilities and has grown into this position very naturally, picking up on our processes quickly and efficiently,” said IAM Director, Michael Seas. 

Of her career thus far, Mormak said, “There was a lot of opportunity to grow. Some of it just happened, and some I chased.” She continued, “I am very detailed oriented and organized which is what is needed in this position. I tagged along to meetings and asked a lot of questions to learn more and more about the technologies our department oversees. Managing the security systems really lets me put my detailed eye to work.  It is constant, but I like that I am busy all day,” said Mormak of her workload.

With technology changing so rapidly, older systems are upgraded as funds become available, but the group is always on the lookout and constantly testing the newest technology to meet the university’s present and future needs.

Advances in technology require constant review and product testing. In the IAM’s test center, products under consideration are reviewed and their performance analyzed. Mormak noted that new technology is rolled out only once it has undergone thorough testing and meets the manufacturers’ claims. “In an institution the size of Rutgers, we have to fully test any new product to ensure a successful rollout,” she said. “Nothing gets rolled out unless we are confident that it works.”

Despite technological advances, the group still cuts over 40,000 keys annually. “We would like to see keys take a secondary role, and allow technology to take the main role” Seas said, “but two things have to be considered: the financing to implement more technology and determining which systems will best serve Rutgers over the long term.”

Testing and field trials are ongoing. Some changes are imminent, some further away. The magnetic strip on ID cards, for example, will likely be phased out in the near future. Chip technology is already embedded in the ID cards; in fact, all Rutgers libraries have upgraded to chip technology for book checkouts.

Mormak admits she loves the path her career has taken. “I have an eagerness to learn and grow, and a boss who is willing to let me. I love my job.”

This article can be found in the IP&O Insights Newsletter May Issue.