Education :

MEd. Secondary Education in Physics and Chemistry, anticipated Sept. 2001
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA

•Massachusetts Teacher Certification anticipated June 2001 upon completion of UMASS Program
Physics 9-12 and Chemistry 9-12
•Student Teaching at West Side High School, West Springfield Public Schools.
January 28,2001- May 18, 2001
Cooperating Teacher: Angela Valinski
•Pre-practicum work conducted in Physics at West Springfield High School, Fall 2000.
•TEAMS Tutoring at Greenfield High School and with Cathy Wilkinsí off site
alternative program.

Kempner-Tregoe Problem Solving & Decision Making, Q3 1997

Pro-E Design and Pro-E Surfaces, 1997 , Parametric Technologies Corporation, San Jose, CA

"ISO 9000 - A Management Overview": California State University at Northridge, October 1993

Introduction to Total Quality Management: California State University at Northridge, Fall 1994

MS degree in Plastics Engineering, May 1994.
University of Massachusetts Lowell

Thesis Topic: The Effectiveness of Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers in Polyolefins.

Graduate Research Topics in Design (1991-92) included machine design and plastic gear design in power transmission applications.

Graduate Research Topics Material Science (1991-93) included radiation stabilization of polymers, absorption & leaching characteristics of biomed. plastics and composite applications and processing.

BS degree in Plastics Engineering, May 1992.
University of Lowell

Work Experience:

Collaborator with A2L Project
University of Massachusetts Physics Education Research Group, UMPERG
Spring 2001

Invited to participate in the use of A2L formative assessment tools and contibute curriculum to the program during my student teaching at West Side High School.

Research Assistant, Feb. 2000 to Jan.2001
University of Massachusetts Physics Education Research Group, UMPERG
University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA

Project Assignment: Accessing to Learn, A2L.
Responsibilities include: Supporting goals of the A2L evaluation team; observing classrooms of collaborating high school physics teachers and preparing written reports; interviewing collaborating teachers and transcribing the conversation;and assist ing in the recruitment of new collaborating teachers

Design Engineer/ R&D Engineer, Aug. 1998 to Sept. 1999
Arthrocare, Sunnyvale, CA

Responsible and accountable for new product project planning and execution. Activities included: product design, scheduling project milestones; productive use of animal studies and Cath Lab time; directing and supervising R&D technician and clean room staff; creating and validating new manufacturing and quality procedures; training cleanroom staff; and maintaining FDA files.

Development Engineer, Feb. 1997 to Aug. 1998
CardioThoracic Systems, Cupertino, CA

Designed, prototyped, validated, and transferred to manufacturing several new products for minimally invasive cardiac surgery. I worked well in this highly effective, collaborative team environment where new ideas were developed to market in 3-6 months. Responsibilities included schedule, budget, quality, FDA documentation, and training clean room staff on new procedures. Products I designed or designed components of include : MIVS^TM (Minimally Invasive Valve Replacement System), Ceres^TM Saphenous Vein Harvest System, MIDCAB^TM II (Minimally Invasive Direct Cardio Arterio Bypass) , Access MV^TM and Access MP^TM , LIMA (Left Inferior Mammary Artery) Lift .

Manufacturing Engineer, Sept. 1996 to Feb. 1997
SurgX Corporation, Fremont, CA

Development of our first ESD (Electro-static Discharge) shielding products, defined and honed manufacturing methods, controls, and metrology requirements. The staff of three manufacturing and quality control technicians reported to me daily.

Project Engineer, June 1993 to Sept. 1996
Softub, Inc., Chatsworth, CA

Responsible for project management, scheduling, project budgeting, maintaining production capacity and supervising R&D technician. Other duties included concurrent engineering, resolving quality issues, coordinate with vendors to prototype and field test new products and features.
 

Teaching Assistant, Spring 1993
College of Education, University of Lowell, Lowell, MA

Worked in Dean Piersonís office preparing documents for the reaccreditation of the College of Education.

Teaching Assistant, Fall 1992
Tsongus Industrial History Museum, Lowell, MA

Duties performed included:
Prepared and facilitated workshops for visiting school groups K-12. Areas of focus included: waterpower, immigration, invention, the power loom and textiles.
Assisted in improving and developing materials for workshops.

Teaching Assistant, Summers 1988 and 1987
Woods Hole Childrenís School of Science,Woods Hole, MA

Duties performed included:
Oversaw the growth and safety of school children ages 7-16.
Prepared classroom for dayís activities.
Provided for live specimens on days requiring such.
Classes which I assisted included: Sea Shore Life A (ages 7-8), Sea Shore Life B (ages 9-10), Beginning Nature Photography (ages 10-12), Orienteering and History of Woods Hole (ages 10-12), Entomology (ages 10-12), Ornithology ( ages 10-12), Biological Illustration (ages 12-14), Advanced Marine Biology (ages 14-16).

Computer Skills:
Mac and PC, Pro-E: solids, surfaces, assembly, and drawings, Solid Designer v6.1, ME10 v8.5, HTML 4, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD12, Moldflow, MS Excel, MS Word, MS Works, Strawberry Tree Data Acquisition System, QuatroPro, WordPerfect , ApplesWorks, Photoshop, and Acrobat.

Affiliations:
The Society of Plastics Engineers.1988-present
American Quilting Society 2001- present