Carol Cusano, Ph.D.

assistant professor, the mCCORMICK division of BUSINESS

Office Room: Ellenwood
ccusano@svc.edu

I started my professional life as an equestrian, working throughout the country as an exercise rider training race horses. I first attended college as a pre-med major interested in becoming a veterinarian. Finding myself captivated by the colors and forms of cells and animal anatomy, I changed my major to Fine Arts. This led to a varied career, much of which has been guided by my interest in education and abilities in the visual arts, research and technology. While working as a Middle & High School librarian, I became enthralled with the World Wide Web—the perfect space for combining these interests. This directed my enrollment into the PhD program at the Graduate School of Computer & Information Science at Nova Southeastern University where I received my doctorate in 2002. My dissertation research investigated and tested the use of Information Visualization (IV) as a usable tool for exploring search results on the World Wide Web. I am still fascinated with design approaches which help make digital information approachable and understandable. In the classroom, I use my visual knowledge as a methodology to guide students to more easily approach and learn new technologies.

Education

Ph.D., Information Science and Systems, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
M.L.S., Library and Information Science, University at Albany, Albany, N.Y.
B.S., Painting and Drawing, College of St. Rose, Albany, N.Y.

Courses taught

SVC:
Fundamentals of Academic Computing
Web Development/Design
OTHER INSTITUTIONS:
Network Design
IT Administration
Date Communications
Hardware Support
Visual Basic/.NET Programming
Network Security
UNIX/MS/LINUX Operating Systems
SQL Programming
Server Support & Troubleshooting
Microsoft Office
Desktop Support
Systems Analysis /Design
Library/Research/Literacy Skills
Arts/Crafts and Art History

academic Research/interests

Academically, my research involved information visualization, its use in distributed networks and the impact on users. Currently, I am exploring using visualization concepts within the classroom as a teaching methodology.

areas of expertise

Information visualization, human computer interaction, Web design and usability, and information literacy.

Why I teach

Teaching allows me to stay current in my field, challenges the way I think about technology and, most importantly, allows me an opportunity to make a difference.

Favorite Book

An endless list . . . The Great Gatsby, Love in the Time of Cholera, Horse Heaven, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Pride & Prejudice, The Orchid Thief, Animal Dreams . . . .

Favorite film

Another long list . . . Adaptation, The King's Speech, The Godfather, The Black Stallion, Jaws, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, To Sir with Love, Desk Set, anything with Will Farrell . . . .