dave.mussulman mussulma@uiuc.edu

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I'm starting a masters degree program in the Graduate School of Library Information Science at UIUC in fall of 2005. I'm only a part time student, so it will take me a few years to finish the degree.

I hope to get out of the degree a better understanding of information systems -- big ones and small ones, existing systems we interact with on a daily basis and emergent ones that will be a major part of our lives. I want to understand what society's needs are, and help design and develop information systems and interfaces to match those needs. I'm also interested in the secondary effects of deploying information systems.

I don't know much about traditional librarianship. I'm open to learn, and I may find I really like being a librarian. I recognize that almost everything in our lives is an information system (TV guides, shopping lists, contact/social networks, driving directions, calendars, etc.) and I think applying organizational structure to those daily-used information systems can only make our lives better. I know that TiVo, Netflix, my cell phone's phone book directory, etc. have already made a big impact on me.

To learn more about why I want the LIS degree, you can read my personal statement that I submitted with my grad student application. I'm interested in looking at sports information to find new and interesting ways to polls sports stats and make them available. I think that improved data mining will lead to better advertising and marketing. I'm interested in studying 'the long tail' effects and globalization - as both of these phenomena wouldn't be available without the accessability and easy transport of information. There's also my resume from December 2004 that was part of the application.

The LIS program is pretty flexible. Only their two introduction courses are required -- the other 32 hours of the degree requirement can be filled with courses that I and my advisor decide help move me towards my goals. I can also take classes outside of GSLIS - I really would like to take some sports statistics courses (as an application of large data sets and understanding navigating those sets,) and also some advertising/marketing classes (as an application of interpreting a data set to reach a goal.) A master's thesis is not required, but if I decide I like the field and am interested in pursuing a PhD, I may deposit one.

Although I'll be working full time for CS while getting my degree, I want to try to leave myself as open as possible to the "student experience," instead of just "the full time guy taking classes too" rut. If that means taking a few other elective classes I've always wanted to take (like a band class, or join an RSO,) or learn about interesting research projects and potentially volunteer/work for them, I want to be open to the experience. (Let's hope my boss will be. *grin*)

Fall 2005 courses:

I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from UIUC in 2001. As a student, I was very active in the Marching Illini and Basketball Band. I worked for Computer Science as an Undergraduate Systems Administrator and for Housing as a Peer Computer Consultant (labsitter) as an undergrad. I stayed on-campus and took classes two summers, and finished the degree in four years.

I went to Collinsville High School from 1993-1997. It, and Collinsville Unit #10, now have websites. There's been so much turnover at my old schools, I'm pretty sure my teachers and adminstrators have moved on - I don't think I'd know anyone there.