About

My story

I am an advocate for intelligent use of technology to streamline the workflow. I value human diversity-- each person has their own story to tell and their own experiences to bring to bear. And I am passionate about science, community-building, and sustainability.

I have been "into" technology since I got my first computer when I was 8 years old. I built my first computer as a junior in high school at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. Since then, I have worked in computer sales, computer repair, and administered technical support in an academic/educational setting and for a non-profit organization.

My educational background is in biology, particularly conservation and ecology. I have performed field research with birds, bats, and plants. I earned a B.Sc. in ecology from the University of Georgia and an M.Sc. in biological science from the University of Mississippi. My Master's thesis work involved the natural history and behavioral ecology of the threatened Rafinesque's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii). I have taught biology labs and led guest lectures at the University of Mississippi and presented research work at meetings of the Mississippi Bat Working Group.

I previously worked as an IT specialist at Northeast Mississippi Community College (where I also taught virtual biology courses for several years), IT Manager at the Family Resource Center of North Mississippi (FRC), and an Information Systems Coordinator for the United States Marine Corps 12th District. At the FRC, I oversaw procurement, repairs, and distribution / installation of new equipment at the organization's 13 offices and facilitated the transition from contracted to in-house IT support (this resulted in significant cost savings and more efficient services). In my role at the USMC, I oversaw computer, networking, and telecomm support for almost 100 Marine recruiters and support staff in offices across Oregon, Washington, and Alaska at the behest of the District's ranking Captain (O-3) and Major (O-4).

Most recently, I worked as a technical consultant and IT project manager for the Access to Medicines and Health Products division at the World Health Organization. As part of this work, I helped test and improve a highly customizable health and medicine survey platform in conjunction with colleagues and partners in Ghana, Kenya, Lebanon, Romania, Switzerland, and Tajikistan.

In the last few years, my partner and I bought a fixer-upper home and, while I still feel like a huge novice, I have learned more about carpentry, electrical work, and tools than I ever expected (or maybe wanted). In my spare time, I enjoy hiking and kayaking well as reading science fiction, [amateur] weightlifting, football (the original), computer games, and learning about space. Crater Lake (pictured above, photo by me) is one of my favorite places on Earth. My favorite music genres are the blues (hey, Mississippi!), metal, and synthwave (I cranked out much of this site to the sounds of Daniel Deluxe and Com Truise). Thanks for stopping by!

Know-how

What I have done

My expertise in both technical and scientific avenues has been applied in support of business, academia, government, and NGOs. I have successfully completed tasks ranging from creation / analysis of SOPs to advice on branding, assisting with web and social media presence, and consulting on IT requirements in support of grant applications.

Interpersonal / Communication

Not only do I possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, but I have experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds-- from my work assisting a physically-disabled student and teaching computer classes to senior citizens and providing technical support to college faculty and US Marines. My experience also includes close inter-agency coordination (e.g., with USACE, USFWS, USFS) on ecological projects as well as working on a team spread across different time zones and continents.
Technical / IT Project Management

I have overseen complex information technology projects including planning, purchasing, deployment, and inventory / distribution of end-user hardware as well as networking equipment. I have managed user testing and bug reporting (Web / Android / iOS) for an international medicine surveying platform, including coordination across teams / agencies. My experience also includes user administration / management in Active Directory, Exchange, and Microsoft Identity Manager. I have liasied with developers and managed / tracked tickets in Microsoft DevOps and ZenDesk.
Photography & Videography

I have produced high-quality photographic and video media for projects ranging from political campaign materials to biological laboratory technique demonstrations.
Web Design

I can create professional, standards-compliant websites that balance ease-of-use with pleasant, engaging design (like this one, hopefully).
Statistical analysis and data illustrations

I have analyzed and visualized data both in biology / ecology and in support of organizational goals (customer geodata, trends, feedback, etc.).

Portfolio

A few things I've made

Recently, I served as the campaign administrator for Hannah Maharrey's Tupelo city council campaign. I managed advertising, social media, and promotional materials for her campaign as well as designed and maintain the campaign website:

I also created a website for the Victor Fleitas for Mayor campaign.

In my spare time, I also run the vegan food pop-up in Tupelo called Rabbit Food. In addition to cooking the food, I created a website, online ordering system, and designed promotional materials.

Below, you'll see some of the photos I have taken and graphics I have made. And finally, I have some writing samples. Here's an op-ed I wrote prior to Mississippi changing its state flag. More technical writing samples can be found here and here.