Employee Spotlight: Candace Johnson
Candace Johnson is an Assistant Budget Analyst in the ITS Budget Office within the office of the Vice President. The ITS Budget Office centrally manages the financial services, human resources services and procurement services at a divisional level.
As an Assistant Budget Analyst, Candace assists with the management of the ITS operating budget. She evaluates the impact of changes in the budget levels and expenses to take necessary actions to assure the division is within budget. This process involves tracking and reconciling all ITS division accounts. Candace tracks all financial transactions in the division, creates expense reports, enters purchase requisitions in PeopleSoft and prepares various financial forms.
The ITS division is important to the campus since they provide technology services and support to the whole campus. However, the ITS Budget Office is significant to the division because they make all the necessary technology purchases needed to enable their division to provide world class customer service and support.
Candace is most proud of working on the Vital and Expanded Technologies Initiative (VETI) Grants. These grants are used to purchase new and cutting edge technology related items that students could use to enhance their learning experience. She is responsible for placing orders and tracking the expenses. Candace has purchased an X-Ray machine, 3D Printers, Neurological Kits and Software.
The most rewarding part about working on this project is she gets to attend the “Open Houses and/or Grand Openings” related to the grants to see how the items to see how they are being used. Some examples of the VETI Grant related projects are the Teaching Resource Center, the Library’s Innovation Lab and the Veteran’s Success Center. Another aspect that is rewarding to Candace is the ability to work closely with different faculty and staff from the various departments and colleges across campus.
On a personal note, Candace’s favorite television show is Grey’s Anatomy which she has been watching for the past 13 years. As for her favorite food, she would have to say shrimp, crab legs, sushi and, of course, dessert.
Candace hopes her next trip will be to the Bahamas or Jamaica. During her downtime she can be seen spending time with her family. They are always out at basketball events, school events or family events. However, if no events are scheduled, she is at home with her family watching movies in their pajamas.
She attended CSUSB for five years where she received her Bachelors in Criminal Justice in 2002 and Masters in Criminal Justice in 2007. Candace has worked for CSUSB for 15 years.
For Candace, CSUSB means “a place of growth for me. I learned and excelled here. I received both my degrees from this campus. I have reached several milestones in my professional career here. I started as a student assistant and then moved on to become an Administrative Assistant, and Administrative Coordinator, and currently a Budget Analyst. The personal relationships that I have developed here has helped me grow on a personal level. So, I would say that CSUSB is a great place to plant a seed!”