News

Section Menu

Search

Faster, Higher, Stronger

Alumni

Engineering

Portland Magazine

February 22, 2019

Joel Rosinbum

Joel Rosinbum ’04 likes to say he has two jobs. The first—as a software engineer for Black Locus—keeps him close to his home in Austin, TX, helping Home Depot set prices and manage inventory control. The second—as an elite triathlete and a member of the board of directors for USA Triathlon, an elected volunteer position—takes him all over the world. (In 2018 he traveled to competitions in Australia, Japan, and twice to Canada, in addition to Florida and Illinois.)

As a board member, he represents USA Triathlon and he is an ambassador and fundraiser for the sport. As an athlete, he competes in elite paratriathlons after a skiing accident at Mount Hood left his right arm mostly paralyzed.

He credits triathlon training for helping him with his recovery after the accident (he had to relearn how to brush his teeth and write). But he also sees life skills he learned at UP in his recovery as well. “I don’t think I’d have had as easy a time recovering from my injury if I hadn’t gone to UP,” he says. “UP taught me how to learn, how to take initiative, how to be a self-starter and get things done.” (He was on the rowing team at UP and graduated with a degree in computer science.)

The training takes a lot of his time. He can manage because he has some flexibility in his work-from-home schedule. And he and his wife—a musician—have a great routine too. He trains while she practices. They have also served as periodic foster parents.

Next up? The Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020. UP is cheering you on!