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| Mary Schreck Glynn,
application technology specialist, created the telephone directory database,
media database and the student summer registration system. |
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| Posted 09.09.05 |
Application Technology Specialist Creates Databases to Automate Tasks
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Q: What does
it mean to be an applications technology specialist?
A: Basically, an applications technology specialist evaluates new
technologies and creates and supports academic and administrative
applications using new and proven technologies. All the applications are
database related.
Q: What is the purpose of these applications?
A: The general purpose is to service the Wesleyan community by
automating tasks and sharing information.
Q: Can you give me a few examples of some of the tasks and
information that have undergone this process?
A: Some recent examples include he telephone directory database,
media database and the student summer registration system.
Q: How long do such projects generally take, and do you work on one
at a time?
A: The length of a project can vary depending on the complexity of
the project and its dependencies. Basically, I work on several projects at
the same time.
Q: What is the process you follow to get from someone’s idea to
actually completing a project?
A: The most important part of completing a project is the needs
analysis phase. It is important to have a complete understanding of the
users’ goals and to work out the business logic before programming. The
needs analysis phase requires lots of meetings, detailed information from
the users, prototype screens and workflow.
Q: The telephone directory’s database sounds like a large
undertaking. How did this come together?
A: Along with Human Resources and Academic Affairs, we are working
continually to try to improve the telephone directory process. There are
three parts involved: first is the self-service module which allows faculty
and staff access to change their personal data; second, is the module to
help Human Resources and Academic Affairs update titles and employee
information; third, is the process of printing and coordinating with the
Information Technology Services printing service and the communications
department.
Q: I also learned that incoming freshman can register for two classes
in the summer, before they get to campus. Can you elaborate a bit on this
pre-registration system and why it’s important?
A: The summer registration system is available to incoming students
and is completed by mid-summer. Students fill in a series of screens with
their preferences and the data is made available to the Academic Affairs
office. In turn, the Academic Affairs office assigns courses and an advisor
based on the student’s input. It is an important process since it helps
Academic Affairs and student advisors become familiar with the students’
interests and it helps the students self assess and review the curriculum
before they arrive on campus.
Q: What is the media database, and what are some of its features?
A: The media database allows faculty and staff to catalog all types
of media including images, audio and video. The cataloged media is then
grouped and stored in collections. The majority of media collections are
course related and they are made available to students via the web.
Q: What other projects are you currently working on?
A: Currently, I am working with other departments on printing out the
directory, library departmental collections, WesPress collections, Westel
registration and internal applications.
Q: Are there special programs you use to create these? What
programming languages do you use?
Some of the applications require vendor supplied solutions. However, the
majority are home grown. Since Oracle is the university’s database standard,
I am using the Oracle Application Server along with PL/SQL and javascript.
Currently, we are looking into a couple of Oracle products, including HTMLDB
and JDeveloper.
Q: How did you become interested in this?
A: I attended Fairfield University and earned a bachelor’s degree in
English. When I graduated, I accepted a job at Yale University working with
computer documentation. I learned a little about computers and moved into
computer training. After a few years of computer training, I wrote a couple
of programs and moved into the programming area and have since continued
working in that area.
Q: Tell me about your hobbies and interests outside of work?
A: I enjoy lots of things outside of work, mostly, spending time with
family and friends. My husband, Mike and I spend lots of time at hockey
rinks and soccer fields watching our two children, Corey and Beth. My son
Corey is a senior this year and Beth is in eighth grade.
Q: What would you say is the most unique thing about you?
A: I cheer for both the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
Q: Rumor has it that you’re the nicest person I’d ever meet.
A: Whoever told you, I owe them big money.
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| By
Olivia Bartlett, The Wesleyan Connection
editor |
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