Jenna Amtower: IV&V Help Desk Team Member

What is your current role/position and how long have you been with the IV&V Program?

I have been on the IV&V IT Help Desk since October 2021, and I am the newest member. I answer the phone to satisfy any IT questions, as well work on other hands-on/IT-related projects.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

I love interacting with people and working with my hands. I enjoy building things or taking them apart to learn more about them. I gain a sense of gratification from helping people out and knowing I made their job a little easier. I strive to always learn new things, which I do nearly every day on the job as technology is ever-changing.

How did you come to be at IV&V?

I am from Keyser, West Virginia, and moved to Morgantown to find work after graduating from Potomac State College of West Virginia University (WVU). After finding my first “big girl” job at a local pharmaceutical plant, but the building ended up shutting down after three years of my employment due to being bought out by another company. During my job search, I saw the job posting for the position I’m currently in (spotting the letters N-A-S-A), and I applied as soon as I could. I actually got the call for the interview while I was heading back home during a cross country trip – whoa! The rest is history. 

What is your educational background and what influenced you to choose it?

I have a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems. I have been the go-to in my family for technical assistance ever since I was in middle school. I also love video games, so I really wanted to know how to build a gaming computer and learn how they worked generally. My freshman year at Potomac State was the first year of the CIS program for the college, and it looked different than any other major they had. I dove headfirst into it and absolutely loved it!  I’ve always been interested in the computer hardware, cybersecurity/cloud, and networking side of things.

What motivated you to want to work for NASA?  

I am absolutely obsessed with NASA, astrophysics, astronomy, space, physics, and science in general. I have wanted to work for NASA for YEARS. I even told my family when I moved up here (as soon as I found out there was a NASA facility in Fairmont) that I’d work there one day. It’s so cool to be able to help with NASA projects, even if it is way, way on the backside of things.

What do you like to do outside of work? Any hobbies or activities?

I love, love, love reading — anything from Brian Greene to Tolkien. I can get into almost every genre! So far this year I have read 118 books, out of my goal of 150. My favorite books I’ve read this year are: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky, and the entire Locke & Key series by Joe Hill.  I also enjoy cuddling with my cat, playing video games & board games, changing my hair color, playing/collecting instruments (piano is my go-to), hiking, exploring, taking online courses, and the most important hobby of all: eating/trying new foods. If you have never had the Chicken Tikka Masala from Fresh Mint in Morgantown,  go ASAP!