K.Tusack picture, 2002Karen Tusack

Senior Information Processing Consultant, L&S Learning Support Services, UW-Madison

A bit about myself

I came to Madison from vast suburbs of Chicago in 1974 to pursue a graduate degree in Slavic Literature & Languages.  I made it all the way to ABD, then decided that computers were my true love, so I gave up dissertating on Pushkin's Boris Godunov and entered the School of Library and Information Studies here, earning an MLS in 1987.  There I discovered databases and Relational Theory, and I've kept them up as a hobby ever since. I began working at Learning Support Services as a student over 30 years ago. After I received my MLS I became the LSS Acquisitions Librarian, and in 1990 I joined the LSS Micro Group as their Micro Training Coordinator.  A few years ago I took another lateral step and became their Networked Services Coordinator.  Currently, I maintain a group of Linux boxes as Web Servers for individual departments, maintain our online Digital Learning Lab, and well as consult with faculty on using every aspect of technology in and outside of the classroom.

My second hobby is community theater (I have a basement full of costumes!). I'm a member of a group that has refurbished the old Esquire movie theatre in downtown Madison to make it a permanent home for local amateur theater groups.  Twelve years ago, computers were supplanted as my true love when my daughter Nyssa was born.  Now, if I could just combine computers, gardening, theater, electric blues guitar and motherhood into an occupation, life would be sooo perfect.....

Publications

Designing Web Pages for Handheld Devices, K. Tusack, Proceedings, 20th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning, 2004

Workshop notes

Designing Web Pages for Handheld Devices, Slides

Outline for a HotPotatoes Workshop

Web Based Self Assessment Tools

PowerPoint presentation for the "Stupid PowerPoint Animation Tricks" workshop

Current Projects

I've been too busy lately working on my projects to write about them! I will soon...

Local theater links

The Bartell Community Theatre Foundation

The Bartell Theatre

Strollers Theatre of Madison

Madstage: live theater and dance in South Central Wisconsin

I love this video. I like the patience of the help desk staffer.

 

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