10 years in 350 words or less
I’m going to my 10 year class reunion in July. They asked we each write a short bio of our last 10 years. Thought it’d be worth posting here:
After graduating CVHS in ‘96, my undergraduate career included a stint at Oakland University, research projects at Wayne State University and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, a semester at Macomb Community College and ultimately two years at the University of Michigan. I finished in 2001 with a degree in General Studies (a few courses short of both a degree in Computer Science and Cognitive Psych). During this time, I worked doing desktop computer support, did a couple of web and database projects for the Great Lakes Science Center, wrote a web application for microbiologists, ran some computers and software for a professor doing computational & cognitive neuroscience, and took a year off to work for an auto parts supplier, leading the MIS department for one of their plants.
At Michigan, I got involved in the anti-sweatshop movement, organized an office occupation, and attended a number of demonstrations and other actions. I’ve been arrested twice at protests. I served on a University committee to set labor standards for licensees. I ran for office twice, once for the University of Michigan Board of Regents and once for Ann Arbor City Council. Both races were more to make a point than to win (which I didn’t even come close to doing).
I met Lizz (my girlfriend) the summer after my final year at Michigan. After graduating, I worked for the Michigan Daily as their first full time IT manager and then the Michigan Poverty Law Program as their Technology Coordinator, living in Ann Arbor the entire time. I helped a local community news/discussion site get off the ground.
This fall I quit my job and moved to New York City with Lizz. I worked briefly for the New York State Senate Democrats and recently accepted a position with Pando, a venture capital funded Internet startup.
You can keep track of what I’m up to by reading my blog (which you seem to have found).
May 31st, 2006 at 10:10 am
I lead a much less exciting line. I will tell you I cannot even imagine you being arrested. It seems you found a way to make yourself heard!!! Do you have your own non profit that benefits anything in Michigan? My friends and I have done a lot of work with March of Dimes but have learned they do not handle funds well. We switched to Make A Wish and will stay but they handle funds almost too well. No golf outings etc. I can try to help. Good Luck!!!
Jen