Information Technology Services (ITS)

IT@UofT People — Marco Di Vittorio

Published on: September 14, 2020

Academic & Collaborative Technologies Manager Marco Di Vittorio snowboarding with his daughter.

The backbone of any successful team is its hard-working people. The University of Toronto’s Information Technology Services (ITS) division is privileged to employ outstanding individuals with diverse talents that extend beyond work-related education and skills.

In this segment, entitled IT@UofT People, we will get to know our IT@UofT team across the tri-campus community and find out more about their hidden or not-so-hidden talents and/or pursuits outside of work.

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Name: Marco Di Vittorio

Department: Academic & Collaborative Technologies, ITS

Title: Manager, Application Administration

How long have you worked at U of T?
I’ve worked at U of T for over 14 years in a number of central units managing and supporting academic technology and IT services.

What is your secret or not-so-secret talent(s) and hobbies outside of work?
While I enjoy a variety of sports, I’ve been an avid snowboarder and skateboarder for the majority of my life. Between weekends at Blue Mountain Resort in Ontario and trips to proper mountain destinations in British Columbia and Utah, I’ve spent a lot of time enjoying winter on the slopes. I was more of an active skateboarder during my youth, but I still manage to go for an occasional cruise every now and then.

When/how did your interest in this area(s) begin?
At some point in the early ’90s, one of the older neighbourhood kids brought out a skateboard. It was so different from the other sports I was participating in at the time (mostly soccer and ball hockey) that I was immediately drawn to it. Initially, it was purely the design and mechanics of the board that attracted me. After I eventually got my own board, the constant challenge of learning new tricks and the opportunity for individual expression is what kept me interested and excited.

Do you have any professional training in this field?
Back when I began both activities, formal training or coaching wasn’t readily available. Most of my progression was enabled through a form of experiential and observational learning. I interacted with peer groups that were also beginning to skateboard and snowboard and we would learn together through trial and error. We regularly watched contest and promotional videos created by the major brands and tried to emulate the tricks and techniques we saw professional riders performing.

Who/what are your inspirations?
I’ve been inspired by many individuals in the pro ranks throughout the years that have significantly elevated each sport. These days, what inspires me the most is being able to hit the slopes with my five-year old daughter and share my experiences and knowledge. It’s something I’ve always imagined doing as a parent and while my bag of tricks has certainly diminished, watching her learn and progress puts a huge smile on my face.