Instructors

Combining professional IT experience with academic acuity

ITI Instructors and Professors combine professional IT experience with academic acuity in their teaching, providing their students with instruction in both theory and practice.  Instructors and professors for the ITI Program are drawn from a wide range of fields including:  

  • Data Analytics
  • Design / HCI  
  • Financial Management 
  • Healthcare Informatics
  • HR and Talent Management
  • Information Science 
  • IT Leadership
  • IT Product Development and Strategy
  • Project Management 
  • Social Informatics
  • Website Design

Warren Allen

Warren Allen teaches is the director of the ITI Program and teaches courses in human-computer interaction, social networks, and relational analytics. He conducts research on the role of information technology in our social, civic, and professional lives, and is a public-interest technologist currently working on a platform to support collaborative consumer activism.  Warren earned his Ph.D. in Information Studies from the College of Computing and Informatics at Drexel University. He holds a Master in Liberal Studies degree from Georgetown University and his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Delaware. 

Rick Anderson

Rick Anderson is the Co-Director of the Makerspace, the Director of Virtual Worlds for Rutgers University, and  a trustee at the Fair Use Building and Research Labs (FUBAR). As the Co-Director of the Makerspace, Rick assists students with projects that involve Arduino, Raspberry Pis', or Programming. He also works closely with the DoCS department in order to set up programs  and workshops with various middle schools and high schools in the New Brunswick area. FUBAR is a community Makerspace for the residents of New Brunswick. There Rick provides workshops for soldering, electronics, and 3D Printing for the New Jersey Community.  As Director of Virtual Worlds he has created World Manager for LMS compatible game technology, and web accessible learning scenarios.

Deborah Close

Debbie has more than 30 years’ experience in IT executive and organizational leadership roles in both for-profit and non- profit corporations and is currently an Instructor in the Information Technology and Informatics Program (ITI) at School of Communication & Information (SC&I) at Rutgers.   Immediately prior to joining the SC&I faculty, Debbie was the Director of Information Services (CIO) for 14 years at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) where she was responsible for all of IT, records management and special projects. Prior to DDCF, Debbie’s 20+ year career at AT&T/Lucent Technologies/Avaya included IT executive leadership of large-scale, global business application and infrastructure teams. Debbie holds an ExMSE from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in Biology from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. 

Mike Doyle

Mike is the Founder and Managing Partner of DTech Advisors LLC. In his practice, Mr. Doyle takes interim executive I.T. roles and major projects. He focuses on I.T. Strategy and Management, Program Management and Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures. Mike has held senior technology roles at Ames True Temper, Lucent Technologies, Black & Decker and ARINC. He has advised many clients including ITT Corp, Target, DG3, J&J, R.R. Donnelley and Hitachi. Mike has over 30 years’ experience in Information Technology with industry knowledge spanning Manufacturing, Consumer Products, Semiconductors, Telecommunications and Aerospace.  In his role at Rutgers, Mike is a Part-time Lecturer in the Information Technology and Informatics Program. He currently teaches Management of Technological Organizations and coordinates the Capstone in ITI course.

Erica Lucci

Erica Holan Lucci is an Instructional Design Specialist (formerly the Canvas Migration Coordinator) for the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. She received a B.A. in Elementary Education, an M.A. in Reading Specialization, and an M.A. in Educational Administration from Kean University. A Ph.D. in Education graduate from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, Erica's research interests include digital literacies, innovative pedagogies (e.g. through the use of video games, geocaching/geolocation), project and game based learning, gamification, multimodal approaches to instruction, teaching with technology, and online education.  When she's not instructing or designing, Erica enjoys spending family time with her 3 year old daughter, Emma, and her husband, Jay; baking/cooking; crafting (especially scrapbooks); and playing (video or board) games!

Kristen Luciani

Kristen Luciani has had a diverse career in both business and technology project management with over twenty years of experience working in various industries, namely: credit card transaction processing, e-commerce, financial services, pharmaceuticals, insurance, and fashion. Her industry experience includes Fortune 50 companies, such as MetLife, Deloitte and Touche, and J.P. Morgan Chase, as well as smaller technology startups. She launched a handbag design business back in 2005, as well as a technology consulting business shortly thereafter, providing services such as project management oversight, execution of business process reengineering initiatives, and quality assurance management.  Ms. Luciani received her BS in Accounting from Fordham University, and an MBA with a concentration in Information Systems from Hofstra University. She worked as an Adjunct Professor of Information Systems at Hofstra for two years post graduation.  At the present time, Ms. Luciani is in the design and prototype stage for a new mobile app venture she's recently founded. She is also a bestselling romance author.

Mark Mishler

Mark Mishler has taken on a number of operational leadership roles in publicly traded and private equity companies in global finance including that of Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Controller, and Chief Information Officer.  As Chief Information Officer, Mark lead global enterprise system implementations in both Oracle and SAP environments.  Mark has been an Adjunct Professor of Management, Finance, and Accounting for 19 years teaching at graduate and undergraduate levels.  He is currently a part time lecturer for the Information Technology and Informatics Program at the School of Communication & Information at Rutgers University.  He was published most recently in the December 2015 Journal of Accountancy writing about foreign currency’s impact on operating performance.  In 2014, he was a finalist for New Jersey Biz magazine’s CFO of Year. Mark has earned two Bachelors’ degrees in Chemistry and in Biology from Indiana University and his M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant.

Connie Pascal

Connie Pascal is a candidate for PhD in Library and Information Science and a part time lecturer in the Library and Information Department at the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.  She is also the Program Assistant of the Information Technology and Informatics Program.  Her doctoral research focuses on the information practices of cannabis nurses. Connie received her Master’s in Communication and Information Studies from the School of Communication & Information at Rutgers University in 2011.  Prior to her academic career, Connie spent 17 years in talent management market research, HR technology product strategy, vendor management and technical recruiting services.  This included launching a successful internet recruiting technology company and becoming an early advocate of talent management as a strategic process in the organization.  Connie lives near Princeton New Jersey with her husband, son and pets.

Joe Schmadel

Joe is the current CIO at a leading Healthcare Marketing organization directing the use of its information assets for the strategic benefit of both internal and external customers. Joe has ~40 years of experience within the pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and financial services industries. He is a member of the CIO Council, CIO’s Without Borders, Pharmaceutical Advisory Council, and the Research Board.  Joe is widely recognized as an innovator on technology issues by business management and C-Level executives for its adoption and application while minimizing risk. He has presented keynote addresses and case studies at major national and international events on strategic IT innovation (Computerworld 100, CFO Annual Conferences, BI World Conference Australia, Terrapinn Asia 100 and as guest lector at MIT Sloan).

Joe received an MBA in Finance and Economics from Fordham University, a BS in Management and Information Science from Rutgers University, and obtained an ELC from Harvard University.

Hajar Shirley

Hajar is an experienced healthcare technology leader and educator. As the former Global Head of LifeScan Commercial Technology at Johnson & Johnson, Hajar Shirley led global efforts centered around strengthening Lifescan’s global reach via improved patient engagement initiatives, new digital business development, and expansion of the OneTouch megabrand to new and emerging markets. Hajar is currently a Ph.D. Student in Health Communication at the School of Communication & Information at Rutgers, where she is pursuing health equity research aimed at improving the global patient experience for marginalized populations.

While at Johnson & Johnson, Hajar held a variety of leadership roles across Information Technology spanning across Commercial, Information Security, Supply Chain, Research & Development, and Regulatory Affairs. In her most recent role, she had global IT Commercial and R&D responsibilities in which she delivered key technology capabilities to enable growth and improved Sales Force Effectiveness, expansion of the OneTouch Reveal digital platform, delivery of the new digital platform and rebranded OneTouch global websites, and expansion of eCommerce connected experience.

Hajar is passionate about people development, recruitment, and community service. While at Johnson & Johnson she founded the Rutgers IT Case Competition in 2004 – in which top students are given the opportunity to solve real IT challenges faced at Johnson & Johnson. She has also served as a mentor for the Johnson & Johnson Bridge to Employment program and spearheaded numerous community services events – often taking the opportunity to work with students and children.

In addition, Hajar is a Part-Time Lecturer at Rutgers School of Communication & Information and has also served as a Guest Lecturer at Essex County College. Hajar received her BS in Computer Science from Rutgers University and also has an MS in Computer Science and an MS in Management from New Jersey Institute of Technology. She has completed the Smith College – Leadership Edge program while at Johnson & Johnson. In 2015, she had the opportunity to also attain a certificate from Babson College on Technology Innovation. In 2016 she completed a certificate in Global Marketing Management at Wharton – UPENN.