Systems Administrator III, Student Accounts Receivable
When Hurricane Katrina struck, Mike Pilman had only been at Tulane for three weeks.
“As a three-week-old hire, I was very impressed with Tulane's commitment to support its employees throughout this incredibly challenging time in our lives, both professionally and personally,” Mike recalls.
In the days after the storm, devastation struck close to home. News arrived that their director, Frank D’Arcangelo, who lived near the 17th Street Canal breach, had perished in the flood. Shortly after, the team’s systems manager and assistant director relocated and left Tulane. Adding to the challenges, the homegrown data system that powered student billing and payment processing was destroyed in the flood.
“I know many people have similar stories, but the Accounts Receivable office was in really rough shape after this event,” Mike says. As the “last man standing” for technical operations, he faced daunting odds. “However, we did then, and still do, have a dedicated and amazing team, and through intense teamwork and very long hours, we were able to put the pieces back together in time for the school's reopening—all while putting our own lives back together.”
Through it all, support from others made a difference. “So many—but the people I am most grateful to are my parents, whose unconditional love and support save me every day; to my Tulane friend and former boss at Card Services, Doug Olson, and his wife Sandy, who boarded and fed me in their home when I returned to New Orleans; and to my colleagues at Tulane who gave me the strength to succeed.”
Looking back, Mike carries one lasting message: “Plan for anything, however unlikely. You are stronger than you think.”
