When students and faculty walk into UTA Libraries with a research question, they often carry more than a topic. There’s uncertainty, curiosity, and sometimes a bit of hesitation, especially when data and statistics are involved. That’s where staff like John Connolly come in. 

Connolly, manager for data support and partnerships, has spent nearly four years at UTA Libraries helping researchers make sense of data. Before that, he worked across campus in the Office of Information Technology, building a career that blends technical skills with a focus on people. The move to the Libraries, he said, felt like a natural step. 

“It just seemed like a good fit,” Connolly said. “Here, I can work directly with faculty and students and be part of a broader research support team.”

That team is central to the Libraries’ mission. From evidence synthesis to data visualization, staff across departments work together to support research at every stage. Connolly’s role often begins where many researchers feel stuck, translating ideas into data-driven work. 

For him, the path into statistics wasn’t a straight line. He started in engineering, moved into software development, and later earned a Ph.D. in political science, where he deepened his focus on quantitative research. Along the way, he found that his skills could fill a growing need. 

“I wanted to do more research, and I knew my strengths were on the quantitative side,” he said. “This role gave me the chance to help people at all levels and to collaborate on their work.” 

That collaboration is a key part of what Libraries staff provide. Whether it’s a one-time consultation or a longer partnership on a research project, the goal is the same: to help researchers move forward with confidence. 

Connolly also leads workshops in the Libraries’ research spaces in the Day Family Research Lab, where he helps students build practical skills. Teaching, he said, is something that came naturally. 

“My parents were both teachers. I think I picked that up without even realizing it,” Connolly said. “My dad was a math teacher, and my mother taught modern languages, French, and Spanish. I feel like I was subconsciously influenced by them. So, it is kind of in the family, so to speak.”

Connolly noted that this desire to solve problems is another reason he likes helping with research or teaching workshops in the Day Family Research Lab. That desire to help others shows in how he approaches research and his work. 

“A lot of people struggle with it,” he said. “But if you can help them understand it, you can open up new possibilities for their research.” 

That mindset reflects a broader culture within UTA Libraries. Staff are not just service providers; they are partners in the research process. They meet students where they are, whether that means answering a quick question or working through a complex project step by step. 

Connolly’s own journey to UTA adds another layer to that perspective. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, where he began his career, he later moved to the United States in the early 1990s.  
 
“You’ve probably heard it rains a lot in Scotland. It’s kind of like Seattle, rainy, drizzly and gray,” he said. “But when the sun comes out... It’s really nice.” 

Working in software engineering took him from Florida to Atlanta and eventually to Dallas, where he built a long career in telecommunications before transitioning into academia. 

That range of experience shapes how he connects with researchers today. He understands both the technical side of the work and the challenges of learning something new. 

Outside the Libraries, Connolly continues to explore new interests. He spends time reading, practicing yoga, and volunteering through a master naturalist program, where he’s developed an appreciation for native plants and local ecosystems. 

“After I got my house with a yard, I thought, ' What do I do with this?'” Connolly said. “I wanted to understand what grows well here and why.” 

It’s a small detail, but it speaks to a larger idea: curiosity doesn’t stop at the workplace. For Connolly and many of his colleagues, that curiosity is what drives their work.