When you go to the HUB for help, John Carns is one of the proud few there to answer your many questions and fix your enrollment problems. Carns, 37, has worked for the HUB since August 2000. He holds the official titles of "Assistant Director of Enrollment Services" and "Enrollment Services Administration," but unofficially, he is simply "the really cool HUB guy."

As a young man, however, while a student at Central Cambria High School, class of 1985, his position on the cheerleading squad and as pseudo school mascot earned him a different title — Spirit Man. Say what you will about his choice of extracurricular activities, but Carns "got to hang on the sidelines with 20 girls while the guys were rolling in the mud."

Carns grew up in Revloc, a small coal-mining town two hours east of Pittsburgh — that's "small" as in five streets by five streets in diameter, and "small" as in, if you got into trouble, the story of what you did "usually got home before you did."

After high school, Carns earned a Bachelor's degree in Education and a Masters' degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He now resides in the South Hills with his wife, Lisa, and 8-month old son, Benjamin, whom he calls the apple of his eye. Carns lives in what he calls the "old neighborhood" — his neighbors have lived there for about 40 years, making him the definitive new kid on the block.

Carns sees Pittsburgh as "a world class city with a small town feel … a friendly town with a great history and a great culture. The vistas are beautiful and the rivers, when they stay in their banks, add to the charm."

Carns also enjoys Pittsburgh's footbal scene. He is so enthusiastic about the sport that he has a second job working at the stadium during Steelers games:

"I am a beer man, distributing good times one bottle at a time. I can't believe they actually pay me to go to Steelers games."

Prior to working at Carnegie Mellon, Carns worked as an admissions officer for the Community College of Allegheny County, Boyce Campus. He enjoyed his position there because it afforded him the freedom to plan and develop programs.

"I was like a dog on the farm, free to run, whereas with my current position I am stuck in my city apartment and never get taken for a walk," Carns says.

Carnegie Mellon has a more structured environment, but Carns still finds delight in working here. He says the best aspect of working for the HUB is that he is able to help students:

"Sometimes students come in with no understanding of where their aid or account is at, and I take great pleasure in helping guide folks through the treacherous waters to the safe shores. Sounds a little over-cooked, but a lot of the kids come in lost and clueless, and I get my motivation by helping them figure out what they need to do to settle their enrollment issues."

Another thing that Carns says sets Carnegie Mellon apart from other institutes of higher education is its international population. He says it allows him a "terrific experience … to travel around the world every day without leaving the office. I enjoy talking to the international students and asking them personal questions about their homeland. I especially enjoy the first snow of the season and the expression of the students who have never seen snow."

A downside to HUB employment, however, is that students are often confrontational. In their minds, Carns and his fellow workers are "the bad guys in the HUB."

"I get mad at students sometimes, but [only] stay mad for about 30 seconds," Carns says. "I realize [the word] 'student' means they are still learning…. If they make errors, [it's because] they don't know any better. This is the chance for them to learn and I like to think that, at times, I can be the impetus of change and aid them in learning about the real world."

Carns's advice: when you run into a problem and have to handle it in person at the HUB, remember that he and his fellow employees are there to help and "to keep people in school, not keep them out…. [If you are] polite and … prepared to do what you need to do to settle your account, the world will turn."

John Carns is there to help.