I am a Research Specialist for the Vassar Research Team. I wear a number of hats, doing whatever I can to advance the success of students and their research projects. I am also currently a PhD ABD Candidate (all but dissertation) in the University of North Texas’ (UNT) iSchool Information Science program. My dissertation is a case study of the now discontinued PubMed Commons—an online social network implemented for biosciences researchers to engage in scientific discourse. My research interests focus on the way people utilize online platforms to share information and to form Communities of Practice (CoPs).
I am a self-proclaimed knowledge sharing evangelist. I pride myself in being a disruptor who thinks squarely outside the box.
In addition to my role at OSU-CHS, I hold a joint appointment in the UNT College of Information Department of Information Science and in the College of Science Department of Biological Sciences, teaching information science and bioinformatics courses. In 2008, I earned my master’s degree in Knowledge Management from the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Oklahoma.
Like Dr. Vassar, I have two sons—the oldest is a senior at OSU studying special education and the youngest is a freshman at OSU studying agri-business. I live in Owasso, OK and travel often to our cabin on a small lake in the northern part of Michigan’s lower peninsula. Our family enjoys traveling; our children have visited 46 states and eight foreign countries. When I take a break from working or studying, I spend time gardening, walking, playing with our four dogs, needlepointing, playing the piano, and going to movies, sporting, or arts events. I’m a big fan of CBS Sunday Morning and all it represents.