Patrick Flanigan Interview
Before the start of the 2025 fall semester, DH Center Programs & Operations Specialist Patrick Flanigan sat down with 2024-2025 DH Initiative Programs Assistant Kasside Sahagun-Escalante to answer a few questions.
They discussed his almost 40 year journey starting in 1986 working as a student in the SDSU campus library while earning his Bachelor's in Psychology.
In between the years from 1986 to today, Patrick got married, became a father, was part of multiple bands, got his Masters, worked at an online greeting card company, competed in amateur disc golf tournaments, and even lived in Missouri for a while!
While he calls this a "crooked path," it has all led him to where he is now—back working at the SDSU library! Except now, Patrick is in the Digital Humanities Center and has become an indispensable member of the DH team, being recently chosen as the recipient for the Presidential Staff Excellence Award for Innovation and Creativity.
To hear all about Patrick's story visit the Digital Humanities Initiative YouTube Channel to listen to the full interview and get to know Patrick outside of the DHC a little bit better!
Below are some answers from Patrick that unfortunately did not make it into the video interview:If you could have any guest in the Digital Humanities Center, who would it be?
Flanigan: DEVO/Mark Mothersbaugh. They were probably one of the first critical thinking, humanist, technological explorers that I embraced. I appreciate all the things they've done. I wouldn't want them to play, just to answer questions, but if they played I wouldn't protest.
Thoughts on AI in current culture?
Flanigan: Not so much AI, but I loathe algorithms. I've always been a self curator and I find algorithms in regards to music and streaming a roadblock to true exploring and discovery which just cultivates more of the same and will not really inspire good new content.
Who do you draw inspiration from for your creative projects and work ethic?
Flanigan: Steve Albini was a recording engineer and musician that has always been my guiding light when it comes to recording. He shared his knowledge of recording techniques and didn't chase money or fame when recording artists.
