• the update to the MyPUC portal that links in Alert Me messages as well as information about system downtimes
• initial meetings of the various IS advisory committees
• major strategic projects in the pipeline
• brief status reports on project already underway

Social network analysis is a research methodology that has been used in a wide variety of fields from public health to information technology to librarianship to management to engineering. Based on theory from both mathematics and sociology, social network analysis is used to understand the relations people and organizations have with each other and how those relationships affect the participants, organizations, and society at large.

Perhaps one of the most effective tools in social network analysis is the visualization of networks. Visualizations are an important component of a network analysis because of their ability to generate new insights and depictions of interaction that are not easily discernable from simply reviewing a table of data. These visualization can help us answer analytical and interpretive questions such as:

• what data is relevant?
• what do the interaction patterns mean?
• how do we represent the data in a way that provokes intuitive understanding?

In this talk, we’ll explore some of the software that is available to perform these types of analyses as well as develop an understanding of the issues related to visualizing social network data. I hope you can join us.

Download Presentation

Retirements, resignations, and leaves

We’d like to thank Karen Corey (Assistant Director for Library Services), Linda Szala (Resource Manager), Shelly LaPeer (Telephone Services Coordinator), and June Webster (Interlibrary Loan Coordinator) for their many years of service to the University and the IS division and wish them all well in their various pursuits and activities in retirement. Karen and Linda retired at the end of December, Shelley retired in November, and June retired in September.

We also bid farewell to Sharon Robey who has moved to Purdue North Central to take on the role of Database Administrator at that campus. Sharon’s last day at Purdue Calumet was December 29, 2010 and we wish her well at her new Purdue home in Westville.

Michelle Thornton, Librarian for Academic Partnerships, left the University in December 2010 for personal reasons. We wish Michelle well in her future pursuits.

Mike Brorby, Director of Instructional and Research Computing, is currently on leave.  During Mike’s absence, Heather L. Zamojski, Instructional Technology Specialist, will take on the role of Acting Director. Heather received her B.S. in Information Systems and her M.S. in Instructional Technology from Purdue University Calumet and has presented at several regional and national conferences on various topics related to the use of technology in teaching and learning.

Staff promotions

To advance various University initiatives related to data security and integrity, James Pardonek has been promoted to the position of Assistant Director for Information Security and Assurance.  Jim has been at Purdue Calumet for over 18 years and most recently was our Senior Network Administrator. Jim has over 11 years’ experience in Information Security, with Associate of Science Degree from Purdue Calumet as well as various industry certifications including Certified Information Security Professional, Certified Ethical Hacker and Certified Penetration Tester.

Tim Loudermilk has been promoted to Senior Network Administrator. In his new role, Tim will be responsible for the management, installation, and maintenance of all data network electronic devices and copper and fiber optic cable plants as well as act as campus liaison to Internet Service Providers, West Lafayette networking staff, and outside Internet governance groups.  Tim graduated from Purdue Calumet with a BS in CIS in 2005. 

LaShawn Jones has been promoted to Assistant Director for Learning and Research Services and will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the library. An employee of the University since 1995, LaShawn has a BA in Human Resource Management from Purdue Calumet as has been Access Services Manager since September 2005. LaShawn played an instrumental role in facilitating the smooth operation of the University Library during the recent renovation activities.

Also in the University Library, Carmella Siedentopf is our new Public Services Clerk IV and is responsible for coordinating interlibrary loan activities within the University Library. Carmie joined the University in 2005. Additionally, Kathy Vaught has been promoted from Acquisitions Clerk III to IV and is now responsible for all library acquisition functions, taking over the remaining acquisitions functions Sherrie Kristin was still performing. As previously announced, Sherrie was promoted to Library Systems Administrator last year.

New staff

Katherine Mysliwiec, our new Course Management Specialist, came to us from Purdue North Central. At PNC, Katie developed, planned, coordinated, and conducted end-user support for instructional technology software and hardware resources including Blackboard.  She has her B.S. in Computer Graphics Technology from Purdue West Lafayette as well as a Masters of Business Administration from Purdue West Lafayette.

Javier Solis is our new Associate Network Administrator. In his new position, Javier will assist the senior network administrator in maintaining, installing, and managing the campus data network.  In particular, Javier will be the main contact for issues related to the University Housing residential network and campus-wide wireless network. Javier was a student worker with Purdue Calumet information technology from 2002 – 2005 and went on to work full time at Air Baud Wireless Internet Service Provider from 2005 -2010.

Organizational changes

To provide better and more tightly integrated service in all the general purpose computer labs, the responsibility for the day-to-day management of the computer labs has been moved to the University Library. With the remodeling of the University Library and the creation of the CIVS center in the Powers building, the University Library is now the largest general purpose computer lab on campus. With this integration of the computer labs into the University Library, we will be better able to provide a more consistent service for students, regardless of whether the lab is in the University Library, the Powers building lab, or the Gyte Learning Commons. LaShawn Jones, Assistant Director for Learning and Research Services, will assume responsibility for the operation of the labs.

In a further move to enhance the ability of Information Services to support the technology needs of the campus community, the Customer Service Center (CSC) and Desktop Computing group will now report to the Technological Infrastructure Services (TIS) department headed by Joe Morales. To help consolidate and improve the efficiency of services, the CSC will be moving to the Powers building early in the Spring semester. To help support this move and other initiatives within the department, James Rogers will now be working in TIS on special projects.

• A news feed for Information Service announcements
• A news feed specifically for security alerts
• One convenient link that provides access to all forms needed for IS services
• Significantly enhanced and better organized content

We welcome your feedback and suggestions for further development and content enhancement. Please direct your comments to our web communications coordinator, Bienjen Kortmann, at bienjen.kormann@purduecal.edu