10 C olumbia U niversity RECORD November 30, 2001 Optimism Prevails at Columbia’s Continuing Education Information Technology Initiative cent per year, from 1.4 billion to gy which is still out there.” Upon New CTA graduate Yvonne “I wanted to get the right BY CAROLINE LADHANI $5.4 billion by 2004. reversal of the slump in the econ- Rabsatt, who grew up in foundations, and I believe I got “The dot-coms that failed did omy, “new capital investment, and has lived in all that through the ADIS pro- Despite the downturn in the so because of a lack of workable especially the high-tech type, her life, has already begun work- gram,” said Boucher. “It’s a U.S. economy, optimism business plans, not because of will continue where it left off,” ing as a software engineer for good program because it teaches abounded at a Nov. 15 gradua- the inability of technology to he said. Though he did not say Ericsson Internet Applications. you how to be an architect for tion ceremony of Columbia Uni- perform,” said Corbet. “These when the economy might reverse She said she initially entered the information systems and many versity’s Computer Technology mistakes provide important itself, he said the future looks CTA program because she want- many companies need that posi- Applications (CTA) program, an lessons for the future.” promising. “The long-term out- ed a career change from finance. tion.” initiative offered through Con- Dennis Green, director of the look for productivity growth as Rabsatt learned programming One graduate who was unable tinuing Education. Keynote CTA initiative, said that the pro- far as I am concerned remains from scratch through one of the to attend the ceremony was speaker Kathleen Corbet, execu- grams’ instructional staff and substantially undiminished,” he five tracks offered in the pro- Arnold Lim. He had been an tive vice president at the global advisory board, which are both said. gram, Database and Design employee of Fiduciary Trust and investment firm Alliance Capital composed of about 95 percent Many of the CTA graduates at Development (DADD). was among those who perished Management L.P., told graduates information technology profes- the Nov. 15 ceremony had “I had zero computer experi- in the World Trade Center that the success of the financial sionals, are convinced that infor- already secured jobs. CTA ence,” said Rabsatt. “Now I’m attacks. Lim had completed the services industry in the past has mation technology will remain a administrators say that while using Java programming in the coursework for the ADIS track depended on productivity gains steady force, despite gains being jobs are not guaranteed even industry. So in Spring 2001. Members of his in technology. She added that the put on hold since stock prices fell upon graduation, most students I really changed my life because family, his friends and fiancée industry’s greatest future asset sharply in March 2000. who perform at a grade of B and of this program.” She said that were present to accept the cer- will be knowledge management. “Once [the economy above in their classes are hired while her company has been tificate on his behalf. “The challenge facing us rebounds], and possibly before for entry-level or higher posi- affected by the economic down- ’s Com- today is to harness the power of that, projects that are now on tions. This may, in part, be due to turn, Rabsatt herself has not. puter Technology Applications technology to manage knowl- hold and that have been cut back the program’s hallmark fea- “Everybody across the board is program, offered through Con- edge. In fact, your timing is in the industry will be put back in ture—students must complete a being affected by it, not just tinuing Education, is a rigorous impeccable,” she told graduates. the pipeline,” said Green. final project on a real-world or Ericsson. But because I have four-semester course of study “You have selected the right Green cited recent comments prototype problem in informa- skills here that they want and that combines the academic career at the right moment in this by Federal Reserve Chairman tion technology by applying the need, I’m still employed.” strengths of Columbia with the information evolution that began during an skills they have learned in their CTA graduate Julien Boucher knowledge of information tech- 20 years ago with data process- appearance at specified concentration of study. finished his coursework in the nology practitioners in a consis- ing, [which] is today’s informa- Nov. 14 in which Greenspan "It is a matter of great pride to Analysis and Design of Informa- tently cutting-edge program. tion technology and will become talked about the implication of all of us at Continuing Educa- tion Systems (ADIS) track last Students choose from five tracks knowledge management tomor- technical projects. The tion that [while] the CTA pro- fall and is now a manager of spe- of study: Analysis and Design row.” Times reported that Greenspan gram has played a remarkable cial projects and planning in the of Information Systems (ADIS); Corbet said that the knowl- referred to numerous surveys of role in the training of New communications and technology C++ and Java: Programming edge management industry will business executives of U.S. com- York's high-tech labor force for department at the Associated and Software Development not suffer the same demise as the panies that reveal that only 50 more than two decades, it has at Press (AP). Following gradua- (PROG); Database Application dot-coms, citing a report by the percent of the new productivity the same time made possible tion from Columbia University Development and Design International Data Corporation enhancing technologies have substantial upward professional with a degree in project manage- (DADD); Java Development for (IDC), which predicts that from been implemented. mobility for many ambitious ment, Boucher went on to work E-commerce (ECOM); and Net- 1999 to 2004 investment in Greenspan reportedly said: people in the metropolitan as a project management consul- work Administration and Design knowledge management soft- “That means there is a major area," said Frank Wolf, dean of tant and found that he wanted to (NAAD). For more information, ware will see a growth of 31 per- unexpected amount of technolo- Continuing Education. upgrade his skills. visit www. ce.columbia.edu/cta.

Students’ Love for Art Inspires Innovative Programs on WKCR-89.9 FM (Continued from Page 1) artists are great to showcase occasionally, I prefer to “Composed on the Tongue,” focus on emerging talent and “Studio A” and “Manhattan lesser-known venues.,” Theater of the Ear.” Ten Lehrer says. Thompkins undergraduate students and agrees, and believes that her one alumni comprise the participation on “Art current arts team and consis- Attack” has introduced her tently bring their unique per- to “all sorts of arts. I came spectives and personalities from Sacramento, CA, and it to the shows, according to doesn’t have quite the same urban studies major Vivian breath as the New York art Lehrer, CC ’02, who heads scene does.” the station’s art department Perhaps the most consis- and co-hosts “Art Attack.” tent personality on WKCR- Most students do not have 89.9 FM has been Janie Iadi- radio experience before paolo, a Columbia alumni coming to Lerner Hall where who enjoyed her on air inter- WKCR—89.9 FM is now views with artists so much housed, nor do they antici- she kept doing them each pate radio careers after grad- Sunday night from 9-10 on uation. Yet Lehrer says all of “Studio A.” In its tenth year, WKCR—89.9 FM DJs have Iadipaolo’s show has gained to attend two FCC training such a following that like sessions and pass technical RECORD PHOTO BY JO KADLECEK Kuecuekyan, she often can’t keep up with requests. tests before earning on-air Vivian Lehrer, CC ‘02, left, and Michelle Thompkins, CC ‘03, cohost “Art Attack,” a WKCR- Part of the creative opportu- licenses. (Even the training 89.9FM show that airs every Friday night from 10-11 pm and includes a variety of guest artists. sessions are run by stu- nities for WKCR-Arts happen dents.) And like Kue- because of the way the station cuekyan, none receive credit between her double major in tions her guests on a range of of artists in a variety of medi- is structured and supported by or pay, though they do political science and issues revolving around the ums. For instance, “Art Columbia and CU listeners. receive first hand training in American studies, a part time writing process. Then she Attack” co-hosts Lehrer and The other happens because of interviewing, public rela- job and volunteering commit- asks them to read their works general studies major, these students’ tenacious love tions, and an occasional ments for a number of non- on air. Michelle Thompkins, CC ’03, for the arts. ticket to a play or film. So profit organizations. But she The result is a stimulating have interviewed an eclectic “Being a non-profit really why do they come week says her time at the radio sta- blend of academic insights mix of artists like sidewalk comes into play with arts in after week to host their tion every Sunday is “a break and poetry slam. Martinez chalk artist James De la Vega; particular,” Lehrer says. respective shows? away from everything else.” even interviewed Taylor , head of “We’re free to operate without “This show helps me keep Martinez celebrates the spo- Mali, an author and noted Columbia’s Graduate Play- the normal restrictions of my sanity,” says Jennifer ken word on her show by fea- performance poet seen in the writing Program; Reno, a commercial stations so we Martinez, CC ’04, co-host of turing weekly interviews and documentary, “Slam Nation.” comedienne and writer of promote what we like and “Composed of the Tongue” readings by poets who per- “His energy in the studio was several one-woman shows think deserves free press, wor- which airs Sundays from form regularly at venues such a highlight for me,” Martinez performed at La Mama, and thy of free coverage. Only in 8:30-9 p.m. For the past as St. Mark’s Poetry Project, said. Peter Plagens, Newsweek art NYC, where the opportunities year, Martinez has juggled 13 Bar Lounge, and the Nuy- Other WKCR-Arts high- critic, artist and novelist. are unparalleled, could you her time at the radio station orican Cafe. Martinez ques- lights have included a variety “Although certain big-name have a department like this.”