Portfolio

The following are examples of my work that I feel exemplify necessary core professional competencies of effective communication skills, research ability, teamwork, content knowledge, writing ability and technical proficiency. Unless otherwise noted, all documents are offered in PDF format. If you do not have a PDF viewer, you can download Adobe Reader for free.

Prototype thesaurus project: Hand knitting patterns: Produced for a course in content representation, this is the final documentation for a term project undertaken to create a controlled vocabulary that could be used to index hand knitting patterns. The prototype thesaurus contains both a hierarchical and an alaphabetical display of the vocabulary that I created.
A review of recent developments in term conflation approaches for Arabic text information retrieval: This is a short paper that presents background information regarding the Arabic language, with particular attention to the specific difficulties the Arabic language presents for text-based information retrieval systems. It then examines some of the history of and recent developments in the particular field of term conflation of Arabic text, a crucial component to effective information retrieval systems for highly inflectional languages. This paper was produced for the course Information Retrieval.
recibrary: Conceptualizing a comprehensive culinary digital library: Produced for a course in digital libraries, this document puts forth the idea of a comprehensive digital library capable of supporting a modern, post-secondary culinary arts program. Five particular aspects of the digital library are the main focus of this paper: collection content, general system architecture, metadata usage, interface design and availability of specialized tools and services. Relevant concepts and best practices from the literature and a background study of commercial websites aimed at home cooks are presented alongside specific recommendations for the system under consideration.
Automated query translation in cross-language information retrieval: This document contains an introduction to the field of cross-language information retrieval as well as a literature review and annotated bibliography centered on journal papers pertaining to automated query translation. This document was produced as a term project for a course entitled Information Access & Resources.
Non-English Access Support for Cheltenham Township Library System: Produced as a final project for a course I took entitled Professional and Social Aspects of Information Services, this sample grant proposal proposes a three pronged initiative to increase access for a substantial minority community of non-native English speakers of Korean descent that exists in the population served by the Cheltenham Township Library System.
Sample Library Website: Elkins Park Free Library: This site was built as a prototype to demonstrate website design and programming skills for the course Internet Information Resource Design.
Graduate iSchool Retention at Drexel University: This report was produced as the final deliverable in my Six Sigma Green Belt certification course. Executed by a team of three, this particular project focused on trying to determine the root causes of graduate student attrition in the iSchool at Drexel University as well as offer effective, implementable solutions to increase retention.
Commerce without cords: An exploration and consideration of the realities and possibilities of mobile commerce in a 3G world: This paper outlines the technical history of mobile cellular networks through third generation technology and also suveys the present state and future possilbities of mobile commerce based on this and future mobile network technologies.
NiteLight: Final Project Documentation: This report contains final project documentation, including all code and output, pertaining to the creation of an Oracle database for a fictious online book resale company, NiteLight. The documentation covers all stages of this team project from initial proposal and requirements collection through coding and implementation.
OnCD: Analysis and design of an online CD sales and inventory system: This report contains final project documentation for the first two iterations of analysis and design of an online ordering and inventory system for a small CD retail store using an iterative object-oriented analysis and design methodology. This report was produced for a course in information systems analysis and design and covers all facets of the anaylsis and design phases of information systems development from the initial problem description through physical system design.
Chinese Ritual Bronzes: The perplexity of vessel ornamentation: This paper was produced for a course entitled Technology of Cultural Materials - Metals. The paper explores the cultural significance of ornamentation of ancient Chinese bronze ritual vessels during the Shang Dynasty.
Annotated Bibliography: Tibetan Statuary
Annotated Bibliography: Chinese Bronzes
Annotated Bibliography: Roman Glass
Annotated Bibliography: Japanese Ceramics: These annotated bibliographies were prepared for a series of courses entitled Technology of Cultural Materials. These courses focused on exploration of the technology, aesthetics and function of ancient and historic metal, glass and ceramic objects.
Putting the human back in archaeology: Looking at society at Stonehenge: This paper was prepared for a course in old world archaeology. It explores the need for modern archaeology to focus more on the perspective of human experience of space and time in its study of sites.
Thoughts on the Future: Critical Issures Facing Drexel University & Some Possible Solutions: This presentation was prepared for a course in the foundations of higher education. It covers three critical issues facing the livelihood of Drexel University and offers possible solutions to these identified issues. A transcript of the original audio is available by clicking on the small brown speech bubble in the top left corner of each slide. I have also provided a speaker's notes version of the presentation where the transcript may be easier to read. The original PowerPoint version is also available.
Public versus Private: A comparative study of governance in higher education: This presentation was prepared for a course in governance in higher education. This presentation was prepared and delivered by me and one other student and presents a comparitive study of higher education governance in public and private institutions. A transcript of the original audio is available by clicking on the small orange speech bubble in the top left corner of each slide. I have also provided a speaker's notes version of the presentation where the transcript may be easier to read. The original PowerPoint version is also available.
The University of Delaware: An analysis of the campus environment and its impact on student development: This presentation was prepared for a course in student development and customer service management in the higher education environment. It presents the findings of a standard SWOT analysis of the University of Delaware's campus environment and its impact on student development at the institution. A transcript of the original audio is available by clicking on the small orange speech cloud in the top left corner of each slide. I have also provided a speaker's notes version of the presentation where the transcript may be easier to read. The original PowerPoint version is also available.