That’s just the way he likes it. MacDougall is happy to fly under the radar. So, when President Marie Hardin told him he had been selected for a 2026 Staff Excellence Award, he wasn’t convinced it was real. He’ll be honored this October alongside five of his Quinnipiac colleagues.

“Honestly, when I first found out, I didn’t believe it. I thought Marie was kidding with me!” he said. “Once it sank in that she was serious, I was really honored and grateful. It also made me realize that maybe I’m not as under the radar as I thought I was.”

Ask MacDougall what has kept him at Quinnipiac for nearly two decades, and he points to the people.

“I take pride in being someone people can count on,” he said. “And it’s the people that keep me here. No two days are exactly the same. I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many great people across the university, and those relationships are a big part of what has made Quinnipiac feel like a community rather than just a place to work.”

Before joining Quinnipiac, MacDougall held a variety of technology jobs, from installing and maintaining internet payphones in airports to managing servers and infrastructure for medical devices across the country.

“Those experiences taught me to be adaptable and, especially in smaller organizations, to wear a lot of different hats,” he said.

That willingness to pitch in came through in his first conversation with Quinnipiac. In a phone interview with Fred Tarca, then vice president and chief information and technology officer, MacDougall described working at a smaller organization where employees took on whatever needed to be done.

“I guess that answer resonated with him because he immediately said, ‘Okay, let’s get you in here for an interview,’” MacDougall recalled.

Since then, he has continued to look for ways to get involved beyond his day-to-day responsibilities.

“I really enjoy all of the different ways you can get involved outside of your regular job responsibilities,” he said. “Whether it’s helping with an event, supporting a university initiative, or just getting involved in something that interests you, there are always opportunities to be part of something bigger than your own job.”

Some of that work has made a difference in students’ everyday lives. MacDougall is especially proud of helping bring the university’s package locker system to campus, coordinating its installation to give students a convenient way to receive packages.

“It wasn’t something happening behind the scenes that students might never notice,” he said of the package lockers. “It was something they could use and benefit from every day.”

During move-in, MacDougall is a familiar face, helping families find their way around campus, answering questions and pitching in wherever needed. He enjoys seeing people from across the university — from Public Safety and emergency medical personnel to the hockey team, staff and volunteers — come together to welcome students.

“A university is a community, and I think you get the most out of it when you actually participate in that community rather than just showing up to do your job and going home,” he said. “Everyone is there with the same goal — to help students get settled, make families feel welcome, and get the new year off to a good start.”

That spirit of involvement has carried into other parts of university life. MacDougall has volunteered for the Strategic Visioning Committee and contributed to projects such as the development of The Grove, the School of Business and The SITE. A longtime hockey supporter, he has attended every Frozen Four appearance during Quinnipiac’s championship runs.

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted campus life, MacDougall continued coming to campus to help maintain essential operations and volunteered with the university’s testing efforts as the community navigated an uncertain time.

One of his Staff Excellence Award nominations came from Joan Metzler, his partner and associate dean of admissions and financial aid. In her nomination, Metzler wrote about the opportunity to see his work up close.

“My personal connection certainly makes me proud of his work,” Metzler wrote. “But it has also given me the opportunity to see firsthand the dedication and care he brings to Quinnipiac every day. He approaches every request with a willingness to help and a commitment to finding solutions.”

MacDougall sees that willingness to help as central to being a good colleague.

“I think being a good colleague and a good member of a university community means not treating your job as just a 9-to-5,” he said. “It’s about showing up every day, being willing to help, and being an active part of the community around you.”

He learned some of that outlook from Bob Rickert, Quinnipiac’s former director of infrastructure and communications, who taught him to look beyond the technology itself. A project might involve construction, renovations or coordinating people across departments — all pieces that have to come together to get the job done.

“It’s about communication, collaboration and understanding how different groups need to work together to get a project done,” MacDougall said.

After 19 years, MacDougall still points to the people who have made Quinnipiac feel like home.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many great people across the university, and those relationships are a big part of what has made Quinnipiac feel like a community rather than just a place to work,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’d like to be remembered as someone who made things a little easier, helped where I could, and was always willing to be part of the team.”