PhD Student/Asst. Instructor
UT School of Information
jpwms@ischool.utexas.edu

I'm currrently finishing up my doctoral coursework at UT's School of Information (iSchool). I completed my MSIS coursework in May 2004 and have spent the past four semesters an an Assistant Instructor. I've supported myself as a full time student through teaching and supporting technology use, and with freelance usability, information design, and web development projects.

I came to Austin with my wife Kelly (who is about ready to graduate with a MSIS from the iSchool as well), in August 2002 to study at the UT School of Information.

Prior to moving to Texas, Kelly and I lived in Brooklyn, New York where, by day, I worked as an Associate in Materials Production at a small professional services firm, and by night I rocked the borough as Brooklyn's most preoccupied DJ.

I received my BA in English with a Studio Art minor from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1999.

My research interests include computer mediated communication, collaboration, instruction, and learning; creation, use, and visualization of multimedia collections and digital libraries; information and technology literacy; community informatics and ICT outreach and support; and information aesthetics, interaction design, and generative art. I'm also very interested online learning and collaboration, participatory design, ambient information, usability and accessibility, collection understading, and information design in public spaces.

I thrive in creative, dynamic places and have always been drawn to libraries and museums.

I obsessively photograph and I enjoy music to a fault.