Front and Center, Ranjan Chari

This month we highlight Ranjan Chari, MSIE, '00, who has proven that vision, energy, and a Grad Center education make a winning combination.

Ranjan is the CEO & Lead Architect of BigAppleDesigns.com, a full-service web design, software development and online communications company based in Manhattan. Their clients range from large advertising agencies and Fortune 100 companies to small businesses. BigAppleDesigns.com builds websites and provides internet software solutions and services for a wide range of clients. They also examine business processes at companies and tell them ways to save money by utilizing technology. Much of what they suggest is freely available and commonly known as "Open Source." BigAppleDesigns.com provides the services to apply this technology in a corporate environment, and their solutions typically deliver results in days. The result: Ranjan's company keeps growing year after year, and they now even have clients in countries typically known for outsourcing and low costs.

"The MSIE program gave me the skills necessary to sell and build internet solutions."

Ranjan is quick to credit his Grad Center education for some of this notable success. "Since I had a technology sales background, I was quite sure that I wanted a program with a very 'hands-on' and practical approach towards technology so that I could 'round-off' my skills. The MSIE program fit the bill. I became an entrepreneur. My life is very fulfilling as I get to wear a bunch of professional hats as a salesman, solutions architect, programmer, none of which is usually possible in the usual corporate environment. The workload is tremendous being an entrepreneur, but so are the experience and the professional rewards. The MSIE program gave me the skills necessary to sell and build internet solutions."

While the "workload is tremendous being an entrepreneur," don't get the false impression that Ranjan slows down any when he's not heading BigAppleDesigns.com. A quick review of what he does to relax will quickly show that, for Ranjan, there are not wasted moments. In his "free time," Ranjan enjoys like nature, photography, sci-fi, world history, international travel, and small budget/indie movies. In addition, he volunteers for several non-profit organizations and is very interested in environmental and human rights issues, worldwide. And, if all that weren't enough, he is working on improving his conversational German.

With your record of achievement and your life as a role model for others, Ranjan, we are proud to salute you this month as our "Front and Center" alum.

Free Workshop for Teachers

Join us for the FREE workshop: "Instructional Design: Putting the Pieces Together." This will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2006. The thrust of this session will be to assist teachers with adapting their courses to online instruction. From theory to design this workshop will explore the steps to creating a pedagogically sound course. The presenter for this session will be Elaine Garofoli. She is President and owner of TLT Consulting, which specializes in the integration of teaching, learning and technology. Garofoli is both an instructor at the Grad Center and serves as a consultant to the Center on educational design and educational technology. Her resume includes more than 30 years demonstrated and combined experience in pedagogy, training, education, and computer technology. In addition, she has spoken at national conferences and delivered workshops nationally and internationally.

The workshop will be held at Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon Street, Brattleboro and will run from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

Those seeking to register may do so online at www.gradcenter.marlboro.edu or may call Margaret Donahue at 888-258-5665, ext. 209.

Class Notes

Amy Crawford, ISM '00, recently sent us the following: Wolfhound Web Design

"Love is transcendent and fulfilling and powerful and any force on earth that endeavors to make you feel that you should be ashamed for feeling genuine, deep love for another of your choosing is a form of oppression." - Al Gore

Dale Newton, MAT '00, checked in: "Greetings. First of all, let's start with an interrogative? Aside from Kevin, where are the rest of you MATers '00? I am definitely ready for some catch up. As for me, still at the English teaching...32 years coming up. I am standing in a pool or 'retirement' with 'retirement' dangling over my head. Dream on.

Our B&B business is growing nicely, www.fruitlands.net and my Web design "side" peaks once in a while. www.sh-underwriters.com is my latest launch for an insurance underwriter.

Our two three-year-old granddaughters keep us hopping on most weekends.

My craziest notion of late was to start yet another venture called Vermont TDI Imports. I am in the hunter / gatherer mode flying around the country and bringing back VW TDIs (turbo diesels - read that as 50 mpg) into Vermont. When I get a moment to breathe, maybe I will actually create a site for that. Until then, www.fruitlands.net/tdi tells the story."

Career Opportunities

Network Systems Administrator
Marlboro College

A critical member of the IT department, this position will be responsible for maintaining and developing our network and related services. We rely extensively on open source solutions, and experience in, and enthusiasm for, working in a linux environment is essential.

Candidates should have sound knowledge of:

• unix/linux administration
• IP routing and networking
• security, IDS
• DNS, mail system administration

Creative problem-solving, diligence, a spirit for innovation, and engagement working in an educational environment are essential.

To apply, please submit resume, cover letter, and three references to
Ian Kozak
IT Director
Marlboro College
Marlboro, VT, 05344
or iank@marlboro.edu

Website Producer/Designer or Developer
Gravity Switch

If you work in the web, and are a fun and dynamic person, we want to hear from you!
We're a small, fun, award-winning web design firm located in downtown Northampton, MA, with a great team including Programmers, UI designers, Graphic Designers, and Testers (QA). We have a stupendous team, and a great reputation in the New England market, and we're looking for someone to help us be even better.

This is a great position for someone who's been doing freelance work for a while and is looking for the stability of a company and a consistent team of professionals, or for someone looking at a change from their current job.

If this sounds like someplace that you'd like to work, you can find more information at: http://www.gravityswitch.com/careers/

Network Analyst
Franklin Pierce College

REPORTS TO: Director of Technology Services

BASIC FUNCTION: The Network Analyst assists in planning, installing, monitoring, and maintaining the campus LAN, WAN, Telecommunications, and Cable Television. They also provide research and input to the strategic growth of the networks, data communication, cable television and telecommunication infrastructures

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or Computer Science or the equivalent in technical certifications and experience. At least two years experience in a networked environment is required. Must have an understanding and knowledge of protocols such as TCP/IP. Familiarity with data communication and telecommunication backbone and wide area networking components such as wiring infrastructure, routers, and switches is preferred.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assures the College's networking requirements are met with the highest level of performance and reliability by assisting the Director in maintaining the hardware and software components of the campus networks
• Maintains the backbone by assisting in the administration of the assignment of network IP addresses assigned to all nodes and the dynamic configuration services such as DHCP, Domain Name Services, and coordinating with other staff to communicate network information or requirements necessary to connect hosts onto the campus network.
• Maintains the integrity of the networks by installing, upgrading, and maintaining network routers, network and telecommunication switches and hubs, working with vendors to diagnose and resolve network problems, operating and configuring a packet sniffer or other applicable tools to diagnose problems, analyzing captured data using network protocols to determine problems, and using network monitoring software with SNMP to detect network conditions requiring corrective action or performance tuning.
• Provides integration, maintenance, and problem resolution for telephone services such as the Ericsson MD-110 PBX and wiring infrastructures.
• Works closely with student assistants, providing training and direction, in the resolution of data communication, cable television and telecommunication issues in the dorms.
• Ensures the College's networks are secure from external penetration as well as internal penetration.
• Works with external vendors in support of our WAN Internet connections, and data communication, cable television and telecommunication infrastructures.
• Ensures an accurate reference of network and telecommunication components by assisting the Director in the maintenance of all campus network documentation.
• Maintains professional competency and currency of information by self-directed reading of professional journals, cultivating professional contacts, attending professional training, and through attending training or educational courses as directed.
• Contributes to the overall success of the Department of Information Technology by performing all other essential duties as assigned.
• The twenty-four hour scope of the department requires this position to available to respond to calls regarding problems with the campus infrastructure after business hours.

RESPOND TO: Erik Murphy, Senior Account Executive
SymQuest Group, Inc.
(603) 762-1222
emurphy@symquest.com

Instructional Designer/Blackboard Administrator
Rivier College

REPORTING TO: Vice President for Academic Outreach

The Instructional Designer/Blackboard Administrator plays a key and significant role in the smooth functioning of traditional face-to-face, hybrid, accelerated and online programming. She/he works closely with staff, faculty, and students providing technical training, curriculum development, and support for the Blackboard course management system. This individual manages the daily operations of the Blackboard student database. The ID/Bb Administrator conducts Professional Development Workshops on an ongoing basis for full-time and adjunct faculty, Undergraduate Day, Undergraduate Evening and Graduates students as needed in order to keep these constituencies up to date with new developments in instructional technology and modalities of course/program delivery.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manage users on the Blackboard learning management system, Including regularly creating and updating the batch files, managing enrollments of those users in courses, assigning instructors to courses, and making changes to user accounts such as resetting passwords, etc.

Manage courses on the blackboard learning Management system. This includes creating course shells, pre-populating these shells with content from previous semesters, disabling courses once they have been completed, archiving courses, and, most importantly, troubleshooting faculty and/or course builder issues, managing patches and upgrades.

Manage the system-wide Blackboard environment. This includes establishing course templates, default course menus, setting user permissions, changing the institution banner, establishing guest access when appropriate, evaluating and implementing system-wide Building Blocks etc.

Oversee and assist faculty in the development, up-dating and archiving of course materials such as Study Guides, multimedia instructional materials for Accelerated and Online Programs;

Work closely with the Academic Outreach Advisor in coordinating the distribution of instructional materials for Accelerated programs;

Convert content to Bb compatible format;

Troubleshoot and resolve problems related to moving content online; Provide technical support for faculty, students and administrators;

Develop technical/training documentation on using the Bb tools, etc. for delivery in print or web-based modalities;

Work with the registrar, IT staff, and other administrators to determine needs, policies, and procedures as required for the smooth functioning of the Bb course management software;

Provide periodical updates to the VPAO on common issues and potential problems related to the help desk and faculty/student use of Bb.

Maintain the course management system student database and course account setup process;

Processing student withdrawals in the database on a timely basis;

Monitor all Blackboard accounts;

Participate in the creation and input of course listings;

Provide support to the VPAO in the identification and implementation of improvements to existing operations and applications of Bb and curriculum development.

Develop documentation to support the implementation of course management system upgrades;

Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree Masters Degree preferred in Computer Technology, Instructional Technology, Curriculum Development, or equivalent combination of education and experience. The applicant should have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, computer management system software and Web Conferencing software. Knowledge of HTML, web development software would be helpful. Must have ability to work with a wide range of people from different academic disciplines and be able to explain technical computer concepts to non-technical personnel.

For further information contact:
Dr. Joseph R. Allard, Vice President for Academic Outreach
Rivier College
420 Main Street
Nashua, NH 03060
603-897-8203
jallard@rivier.edu