Illinois Institute of Technology

Graduate Student, Lewis Department of Humanities

College of Science and Letters

Thesis Title: Youth in Media: Engaging Digital Learners Through Documentary Science

About

I was an engineer, later a technologist, now I am a communicator. My current interests lie in identity construction and understanding the roles we inhabit throughout our life’s journey. In my family, I am the oldest of the generation; the first college graduate, and will be the first PhD. In my life, I play video games and, as a result, I learn from these games: navigating rules, understanding cultures, teamwork, etc. Similar lessons I learned in over 20 years of working for industry, academia, and my consultancy.

I became interested in CMC and education while pursing my Masters. At that time, I was exploring avatar identity and MacKinnon’s model of online expression: transparency, translucency, and opaqueness. Why do we show or not show ourselves; how much do we reveal via our virtual embodiment?

Currently, I work in an allied area where I integrate new media into a myriad of areas at the university and community level. My position affords the opportunity to explore various avenues of CMC; develop curricula, provide training to faculty and staff, make presentations to outside organizations, and consult with the community on technology pursuits.

My work in the non-profit arena has been particularly fulfilling, affording a clear glimpse into organizational operations and illuminating the various strata of the digital divide. How do we best bridge a gap that seems to ever widen in some areas, and collapse in others? Digital inclusion has been my passion over the years; my masters project involved constructing curricula for urban youth in experiential programs. Ultimately, I want my PhD to inform this issue, leading to better understanding of learning in the 21st century. My goal is to become a professor and consultant in the field, championing worldwide the benefits of technology as a tool in education.

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