IT director responsible for access, security and assistance

Her responsibilities include overseeing the policy practices that protect Information Technologies from privacy and security threats, overseeing management of access to the University's electronic information resources and ensuring prompt, effective service to those who encounter problems when using these resources. She also coordinates the work to identify and avoid any Y2K problems the University community may experience.

"Overcoming Y2K problems requires communication and education," Mackenzie said. "We've been working with about 100 liaisons from every part of the University to identify potential problems. Someone might not be aware, for instance, that a particular piece of laboratory equipment or a greenhouse might experience a Y2K snafu. Once we know of a potential problem, we can work with vendors to overcome it."

Education as prevention figures significantly in another aspect of Mackenzie's responsibilities-helping faculty safeguard intellectual property. "As more faculty use the web to teach," Mackenzie explained, "copyright becomes a more pressing concern. We want to educate faculty on how to use the web in a way that protects their work while effectively serving the needs of our students."

Mackenzie is particularly interested in making trouble-shooting of systems more effective-and less necessary.

"I'd really like to strengthen the lines of communication between the Help Center, User Services and CITAs (campus information technology associates). I'm working on a web site where problems and solutions can be shared, so that when one person finds a solution, others can learn about it and apply it to service requests they receive," Mackenzie said. "We've got a ticket system in place that records all requests for problem assistance. I am looking at that data to see which areas have more problems and what questions are asked most often. Findings will then be used to correct problems before they surface."

After graduating from UD with a bachelor's degree in agricultural business management, Mackenzie worked in the Department of Food and Resource Economics for five years. She then became a research associate in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where she was the webmaster and oversaw network administration and computer training, maintenance and configuration.

She also has created and maintained web sites for the Cooperative Extension Office-at <http://bluehen.ags.udel.edu/ deces>-and the UD Botanic Gardens-at <http://bluehen. ags.udel.edu/udgarden. html>.

With a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mackenzie constructed the Biotechnology Web Resource-at <http://bluehen.ags.udel.edu/ biotech/>, which allows traditional students and distance learners to collaborate in a problem-based curriculum. A paper that she coauthored on this project will be published as part of the Proceedings of the WebNet 99 Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.

According to Vice President for Information Technologies Susan Foster, "All of us in Information Technologies were delighted when Betsy agreed to join us in this important role. She brings in-depth understanding of the role and effect of information technology in an academic setting."

Mackenzie, a recipient of a University of Delaware Professional Merit Award, has written a variety of technical documents and software in C++ and Java, coauthored several papers presented at professional conferences and taught both credit and noncredit courses for UD students and staff.

"Because the technology itself and the ways to use it are changing so quickly," Mackenzie said, "it's a really exciting time to be doing this job."

Vol. 19, No. 12

Nov. 18, 1999

Vol. 19, No. 12

Nov. 18, 1999

IT director responsible for
access, security and assistance