consulting overview
Since 1986, I've consulted for numerous academic and nonacademic institutions, including centers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Waterloo, and companies such as IBM, SAS Institute, Inc., Digital Equipment Corporation, and Apple Inc.
"The future is made of the same stuff as the present" (Simone Weil)
engineering online, nc state university, raleigh, nc
Instructional Designer, 2008-2009: Performing heuristic evaluation, competitive analysis, and developing materials for CHE 575 (Advances in Pollution Prevention) blended course.
offices of information technology and public affairs, nc state university, raleigh, nc
Usability Consultant, 1998-2007: Performed competitive analyses, focus group, and usability testing-evaluations (for three previous NC State University homepages). Redesign won 2003 Special Merit Award, Council for Advancement and Support of Education/CASE District III. Selected as one of the "Top stickiest brands at home and work" by Nielsen Online/NetRatings, a "MegaPanel" of 200,000 Internet users across the United States (http://www.ncsu.edu/bulletin/archive/2009/04/04-16/sticky-web.php) and as one of the "Top 20 usable university homepages" in Foss, Foss, and Foss's (2009), The eduStyle Guide to Usable Higher-Ed Homepage Design (http://www.eduStyle.net/book.php).
biomérieux, durham, nc
Usability Consultant, 2004: Performed usability testing and heuristic evaluations on a data management application for Microbiological testing.
"We cannot build our own future without helping others to build theirs" (Bill Clinton)
credit progams & summer sessions, nc state university, raleigh, nc
Usability Consultant, 2004: Performed architectural content design and heuristic evaluations.
allyn & bacon/longman companion Website, longman publishing, ny, ny
Web Content Specialist, 2002: Generated new content for the companion Website for The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers, 3rd edition, by Anson and Schwegler.
human resources, american cancer society, atlanta, ga
Usability Consultant, 2001: Performed an heuristic evaluation and usability performance tests of a Web-based e-learning application for employee orientation.
software engineering division, ricoh silicon valley, cupertino, ca
Usability Consultant, 2001: Performed an heuristic evaluation and usabiliity performance tests of the eCabinet Web application interface.
unext.com, deerfield, il
Web-based Instruction Evaluator, 2001: Provided recommendations for integrating Problem-Based Learning (PBL) into an online business writing course designed for Cardean University.
national evaluation services, american cancer society, atlanta, ga
Usability Consultant, 2000: Collaborated with an health education specialist to evaluate and usability test Web-based materials on colorectal cancer.
plurimus, research triangle park (rtp), nc
Usability/Online Support Consultant, 1999: Coordinated with the user interface group and developed usability testing and online support strategies for their Web-based user profiling technology.
r&d strategies, corporate, sas institute, inc., cary nc
User Interface Documentation Specialist, 1995: Implemented Web-based user-interface guidelines for future products.
documentation development department, corporate, sas institute, inc., cary nc
Research Consultant, 1994: Evaluated interface designs for an experimental authoring system; established usability and design goals for various writing groups.
networking and information development groups, ibm corporation, rtp, nc
Research Consultant, 1994: Trained technical specialists and information developers on effective textual, visual, and online design strategies.
"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt" (Henry J. Kaiser)
engineering design research center (edrc), carnegie mellon university (cmu), pittsburgh, pa
Research Consultant, 1990: Designed online support for an equation-based modeling application for engineers and scientists; funded as part of a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
computer science department, cmu, pittsburgh, pa
Research Consultant, 1990: Designed and conducted observational studies of user behavior with PREP, an application created to support collaboration; supervised graduate research team; funded as part of a grant from the NSF.
centre for professional writing, university of waterloo, canada
Research Consultant, 1990: Designed, conducted, and reported several studies of online navigation using hypertext and hypermedia.
national center for the study of writing and literacy, cmu, pittsburgh, pa
Computer-Aided Instruction Developer, 1988-1990: Created software for professional writers.
communications design center, cmu, pittsburgh, pa
Senior Research Assistant/Associate Researcher, 1987: Designed model online help systems; funded by Apple Computer, Inc., and the Human Engineering Laboratory, U.S. Army.
"The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity
in which we are permitted
to remain children all our lives" (Albert Einstein)
toronto information development, ibm corporation, canada
Information Developer, 1987: Wrote programmer's guide, reference manual, and edited online help messages for a new operating system.
dms training, bell-northern research, canada
Database Designer, 1986: Implemented database for all training departments to assist in tracking student and course information.
hewlett packard/watdec university of waterloo, canada
Senior Research Assistant, 1984-1987: Researched distance education using portable computers and evaluated several courseware design systems; funded by digital corporation.
systemhouse computer company, canada
Programmer/Analyst, 1983: Designed and implemented financial system for Human Resources.