1997 1999 Part-Time Instructor, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR

Karen Thessing

Education

Academic experience

1997 – 1999 Part-time Instructor, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR.

1995 – 1997 Instructor, Conway Adult Education Center, Conway, AR.

- Taught various Application programs and Windows Operating Systems.

Non-academic experience

1985 – 1989 Assistant Controller, Conway Regional Hospital, Conway, AR.

- Hired as a Staff Accountant and promoted to Assistant Controller.

- Responsible for Accounting and Data Processing Departments.

1984 – 1985 Staff Account, Tiffany Stand and Furniture, Conway, AR.

- Hired as a Staff Accountant upon graduating from UCA.

Professional Memberships

• ACM (Association of Computing Machinery)
• UCA Alumni Association

Professional/Service Activities (Past and Present)

- Performed as a judge at the Conway High School Science Fair. (2 years)

- Present Secretary of Arkansas State Science Fair Committee (5 years)

- Performed as a judge at the Conway JR High School Science Fair. (1 year)

- Performed as a judge for the State High School Science Fair at held at UCA (5 years)

- A presenter for Career Day at St. Joseph High School.

- Attended Instructional Development seminars on-campus for self-improvement in teaching skills.

- “Use of Technology in the Classroom” article published in a UCA campus pamphlet.

- A member of the 2004 – 2006 Faculty Associates for Technology Use in the classroom.

- Volunteered to lead a small group discussion with new students on during Welcome Week

- Provided Computer Science activities at Science Nights sponsored by the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics for the local schools (6 years)

- Provided Computer Science activities for 2 football seasons (approximately 8 home games) in the “kids’ corner” sponsored by the STEM residential college (2 years)

- Advisor for the ACM-W Bears (2 years)

- Perform many services activities for the State Science Fair held on the UCA campus (5 years)

- Took 2 female Computer Science majors to the 2013 Women in Information Technology Conference in Fayetteville, AR

- Volunteered to hand out “goodie bags” at a “Fun Walk” for the University of Central Arkansas Health and Wellness Promotion Committee

- UCA Faculty Advisor over Graduate Students teaching the freshman Introduction to Computers course (4 years)

- UCA Faculty Mentor for the freshman Introduction to Computers Concurrent course offered at Conway Christian High School (2 years)

- UCA Computer Science Club Faculty Advisor (2 years)

- Assisted the STEM Institute with a High School Teachers’ Coding Workshop (July 2016)

- Assisted the STEM Institute with the One Hour of Code event (December 2016)

Committee Memberships (Past and Present)

- College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Research Committee (2 years)

- College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Curriculum Committee (3 years, Chair 2003 –2004)

- College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dean Search Committee (6 months)

- College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dean’s Advisory Committee (1 year)

- College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics STEM Advisory Committee (3 years)

- Computer Science Department Curriculum Committee (many years)

- Computer Science Department Chair Search Committee (4 years for various Chairs)

- Computer Science Department Faculty Search Committee (4 years, Chair for 2 years)

- Computer Science Department Committee on Foundation Courses (4 years)

- Computer Science Department Social Committee (2 years)

- University of Central Arkansas Health and Wellness Promotion Committee (4 years)

- University of Central Arkansas University Women Association (4 years)

- University of Central Arkansas Faculty Associates Member (2 years)

- University of Central Arkansas Computer Science Representative for Centennial Committee (1 year)

- University of Central Arkansas Sexual Harassment Complaint Committee (2 years)

- University of Central Arkansas Common Core Committee – Computer Science Representative (2 years)

- Secretary for the State Science Fair Committee (5 years)

- Computer Science Department Scholarship Selection Committee (2 years)

- Computer Science Department Science Night for local elementary schools committee (6 years)

- College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Homecoming Committee (first year on this committee)

Seminars Attended

- Faculty Associates Workshop (FAW 2004 - 2006), 2nd week of May 2004. This is a weeklong training course for using WebCT technology tool in the classroom.

- Faculty Associates Workshop (FAW May 2011). This is a week-long training course for using Blackboard technology tool in the classroom.

- Attended a Log Cabin Democrat NIE (Newspapers In Education 2002) workshop to incorporate newspapers in the 1300 course for instruction use on the Internet.

- UCA Diversity Workshop, UCA Sexual Harassment Workshop, UCA Security Seminar (every year)

- UCA IDC (Instructional Development Center) on-campus seminars for self-improvement.

- SIGCSE Conferences in Portland, Oregon (March 2008) and Chattanooga, Tennessee (April 2009)

- 2010 A.C.W.H.E (Arkansas Council for Women in Higher Education) Spring Meeting, Higher Education on SHAKY GROUND: Creating Sustainability During Unstable Times (1 day/year information seminar)

- 2009 Python Regional Conference – pyArkansas at UCA (November 14, 2009 and November 2011)

- Several IDC workshops for Online Course Teaching Improvements

- 2013 Women in Information Technology Conference, Fayetteville, AR

- Everyone Can Code workshop at the Innovation Hub in North Little Rock, Arkansas (January 24th, 2017)

- Engaging Learners in STEM (February 14, 2017) in Little Rock, AR

Honors and Awards

- Received a $1,000 grant from the UCA Women’s Giving Circle to purchase 2 robots for Outreach activities to attract female students to STEM

- Awarded Professor of the Week by the Tri Sigma sorority (January 2017)

Personal Activities

- Past President of St. Joseph Booster Club (Served as an officer for 3 years).

- Member of the St. Joseph Christian Ladies (Provide food for parish families with funerals).

- St. Joseph Bazaar Volunteer – Co-Chair of Drink Booth, worked dining room.

- Contribute to the United Way of Faulkner County via UCA payroll deductions.

- Contribute to the University of Central Arkansas Foundation via UCA payroll deductions.