LSU Libraries welcomes Michael Stewart as the Assistant Director of Libraries Technology. Stewart supervises the Libraries Technology teams, which include the development and user experience (UX) team and the systems and user support team.

For the past three years, Stewart worked in the financial technology industry for a small startup company, where he led a team of data analysts and data scientists tasked with creating and maintaining a set of core financial data sets to aid hedge fund investment groups in key decisions regarding investment strategies. Before that, Stewart was with the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy for over 17 years. While there, he led teams to develop data acquisition systems for several cosmic-ray telescopes.  Stewart also worked on various NASA-funded public outreach programs where he took on roles such as operations manager, project manager, teacher, systems engineer, and software developer.

Stewart, along with the rest of the Libraries Technology group, is currently redesigning the Libraries website to be more user-centered and is planning an upgrade and migration of the Louisiana Digital Library to a more efficient and secure system.

Originally from the New Orleans area, Stewart has been in Baton Rouge for years. He graduated from high school locally and continued onto LSU where he completed a degree in physics. As an undergraduate, Stewart worked with the Space Sciences group to develop data acquisition system software for the ATIC (Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter) telescope. Stewart enjoyed the software development side of experimental science so much that he added computer science as an emphasis to his physics coursework. After graduation, Stewart remained a full-time employee and spent the next 17 years growing and learning within the LSU community earning a Master of Science in Systems Science.

When not at work, Stewart enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He has two boys, ages 15 and 13, and a daughter who is nine. Stewart enjoys watching and attending sporting events, whether it be his kids, LSU, or the New Orleans Saints. He also enjoys hanging out with friends, which often coincides with watching sports. Stewart spends his time playing the guitar with friends and his children, all of whom also play music. Family outings and vacations are some of Stewart's favorite pastimes, as well.

Michael Stewart welcomes anyone to stop by his office at room 275 in LSU Library with requests, advice, or just to say hello.