Alumni Board
Mary Brown is an experienced professional with more than 30 years of experience in information technology and 10 years specifically in the field of information security. She has extensive experience in the health care industry and contributed to a HIPAA reference guide as well as authoring several articles on the topic of RFID security and privacy. She is a member of the American Health Informatics Association (AMIA) education and ethics/legal/social workgroups. She has presented on a range of information security related topics and was selected as the Minnesota ISSA Security Professional of the Year for 2006 and received the Harold Able Distinguished Faculty award in 2009.
Mary Brown currently serves as a Capella core faculty member teaching and developing undergraduate courses in the fields of information assurance and health informatics.
Mary is also secretary for the Twin Cities IT Alumni Association.
Michael Wall has been the director of alumni relations at Anoka-Ramsey Community College for nearly four years. His background is in education, having worked as a teacher or in alumni relations in three states and the District of Columbia. He reminds alumni of ARCC that he’s always happy to hear from you and to come by one of the campuses and see the great changes since you left.
Thomas Gasser began his career in 1986. He started out in the infancy of the personal computer (PC) era working with Zenith Data Systems, which at the time, was the third largest PC manufacturer in the world. After spending 11 years at the University of Minnesota, in the Neurosurgery and Neuroscience departments, he moved to Direct Response Insurance Administrative Services where he oversaw the computer operations and security department. In 2008, he became the manager of information security for Connexions Loyalty Travel Services (a division of Travel Leaders Group, the eighth largest travel company in the United States).
Ramie Chackan has been the Director of Career Services at Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) since September of 2005. She holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling and Student Personnel from Minnesota State University Mankato. Her primary role at DCTC is to help students and alumni develop, evaluate, and implement their career plans and to provide students with the skills and resources needed to accomplish their career development and job search goals. Ms. Chackan has a particular passion for STEM and Green careers and enjoys partnering with other institutions and organizations to educate and assist others in these fields. She is one of the founding partners of the Nanotechnology Applications and Career Knowledge (NACK) Alumni Network for Nanotechnology graduates across the country and serves on the Dakota /Scott County Youth Council board.
Dionna Jones has been the Director of Career Services at MCTC since February, 2010. Her prior positions include training manager at HIRED, career counselor at St. Kate's, and a stint at Target Corp. as a merchandise planning manager. She graduated from St. Thomas with a Masters in Counseling Psychology.
Prior to joining the Anoka Ramsey Community College in her current role as Director of Biomedical, Business and Technology, Robin has served as an Associate Campus Director, Student Services Coordinator and Adjunct Faculty member at Rasmussen College; an Employment Consultant with the Minnesota WorkForce Center/Job Service; a Program Manager with the St. Cloud Technical & Community College’s Center for Customized Training & Development; and an Education Consultant with the St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare Health System.
Carrie Hageman has been the Director of Career Services at Century College since Fall of 2008. Carrie has an MA in Counseling Psychology and BA in Communications with an emphasis in writing. She has been serving in higher education for over 14 years in several student support services roles including Career Services, Financial Aid and Admissions.
Joshua has 9 years combined education and work experience in Information Technology and Security. Currently a student at Saint Cloud State University, he volunteers his free time to many technology related events. He is the Information Technology and Security Club President and also volunteers as the Security Officer for the Business Computer and Research Lab for campus. In his free time he enjoys programming and reading up on all the newest security related trends. Joshua hopes to someday work for a large company such as Google or Microsoft developing security technologies. Eventually Joshua would like to get his PhD and become an instructor for a University.
As associate executive director, marketing & operations, Sharon directs the production of print and online communications, marketing materials and web content. She is the founder of the Twin Cities IT Alumni Association and author of 101 Ways to Dead-end Your IT Career. Sharon manages Advance IT Minnesota operations. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Hamline University. Her diverse career background includes self-employed artist & publisher, stints as web content manager, communications director, and Web evangelist for a variety of Twin Cities corporations as well as development editor for a local publishing house. In addition to having written 11 other books, she has 3 pieces of artwork in the Smithsonian Institution.
Full-time second year student at Century College working toward an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Information Technology Telecommunications, specializing in Security and Assurance. Currently the Student Senate Representative for the Century College Information Technology Association (CCITA). Member of the Minnesota chapter of Infragard. Work history includes 11 years of business management experience.
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