Susan Bramhall - Yale University

Bio

I have been designing and building software since 1970.  After graduating from Radcliffe with a degree in English Literature I got a job as a computer programmer trainee and discovered a love of logic and design.   At the time it seemed clear to me that if I stuck with it for a few years I could master everything there was to know about computers.  Oops.

For the last 30 years I've worked for Yale University expanding that love and keeping pace with the growth of the software industry first as an IBM mainframe systems programmer when the job involved a lot of operating system modifications and extensions - wow open source!  As the scale of managing systems began to involve less programming and design I joined the Technology and Planning group where I've had the pleasure of exploring and piloting numerous emerging technologies and facilitating their transfer to wide use within ITS at Yale. 

I enjoy most working with other developers to make the best use of new technology.  I was involved with pre-www sharing of distributed client server software approaches developed by Cornell - our first successful self service application for students.  More recently it was my pleasure to be part of the invention and sharing of the Yale Central Authentication Server (CAS) and its expansion to encompass proxy authentication.  I was gratified to be part in the evolution of CAS from the product of a single school to a community based JA-SIG project.

I attended the first JA-SIG ("Java in Administration - Special Interest Group") and immediately got involved in the community driven design and development of a portal by and for higher education - a collective response to the barrage of vendors with "free" portals.  I've been contributing, advocating and developing both uPortal and our YaleInfo implementation for the last 6 years.  On the way I'm proud to have been able to inspire some young Yale students / employees to contribute major innovations and leadership to uPortal as well.

I served on the program committees for the last three JA-SIG conferences and was chair of the committee for this summer's expanded conference in June.  We took some risks by extending the number of days, seminars and tracks while being careful not to reach beyond the resources of JA-SIG.  By all reports our efforts produced a very successful event.

I am currently balancing my continued technical leadership for the Yale portal as it grows to become a true enterprise portal for Yale and acting as the technical lead for Yale's Identity Management project.

I don't program day and night.  I'm a devoted grandma, cyclist, kayaker, ballroom dancer and peace activist.  I have served for many years on local nonprofit boards and especially enjoy working to bring groups to consensus. 

JA-SIG Platform Statement

The higher education community is at its best when collaborating and sharing insights, experience and knowledge.  JA-SIG has created a community of software designers, developers and users that promotes collaboration and shared development to the advantage of all involved. The uPortal project is a model of respectful collaboration with excellent and useful results.  I would like to ensure that JA-SIG continues to expand its inclusive and innovative community by providing support and structure to the developer communities within it.

I see some challenges ahead for JA-SIG as we work to sustain the development of uPortal, CAS and other projects primarily through volunteer institutions and individuals.  The transition to a membership organization is one step towards long term sustainability.  The tension between community based direction and more structured top down leadership is healthy and I believe JA-SIG will continue to thrive with the emerging steering committee model.

I believe the semiannual conferences - or un-conferences - as well as regular developer meetings are critical to sustaining and invigorating the JA-SIG community.  The face to face events are where ideas stimulated by networking and communication with colleagues lead to break through changes for both individuals and projects. 

One change I would love to see is the involvement of more women at all levels of the organization. uPortal developer meetings have consistently produced the most lopsided male female ratio of any meetings I attend. Although I have always felt welcome and comfortable, I am sure the organization would benefit from having more women involved in development, on the steering committees and on the board. 

My leadership style is based in my love of open collaborative teamwork.  My work on the JA-SIG conference committees is typical of my hands on approach to organizational work.  I believe my long history with JA-SIG will help me make a significant contribution to the organization by serving on the board.