By Watina Greene and Shernay Williams
Special to the AFRO
Dionne Curbeam, Dr. Ahmed El-Haggan and Tykesha Reed of Coppin State University.(AFRO Photo/Watina Greene)
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Dionne Curbeam, an instructional technologist, was selected to receive the “Technology All-Star” award while Tykesha Reed, a help desk analyst, was selected to receive the “Technology Rising Star” award.
(AFRO Photo/Watina Greene)
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(November 5, 2009) - Two members of Coppin State University’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) were selected to receive prestigious technology awards by Career Communications Group magazine and IBM Corporation. Dionne Curbeam, an instructional technologist, was selected to receive the “Technology All-Star” award while Tykesha Reed, a help desk analyst, was selected to receive the “Technology Rising Star” award.
In his notification letter to Dr. Ahmed El-Haggan, vice president and CIO for the Information Technology Division, Dr. Tyrone D. Taborn, CEO and publisher of Career Communications Group, noted that Curbeam and Reed’s “numerous achievements stood out among their peers.”
Taborn presented Curbeam and Reed with their awards at the Technology Awards Luncheon on Oct. 30. The event was part of the 14th Annual Women of Color STEM Conference in Dallas, Texas, where women of color from across the country were recognized for their achievements in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and business. The conference included seminars conducted by several of the awardees and also a career fair that included companies such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman and the Army Corp of Engineers.
Curbeam has worked as Coppin’s instructional technologist for two years. Her department is responsible for researching and appraising various technologies to determine which will advance the teaching, learning and researching process of the university. Main initiatives include Blackboard, Tegrity, Turnitin and social networking sites. Curbeam also administers technological faculty development.
Prior to her stint at CSU, Curbeam served as technology coordinator and instructor in the Baltimore City Public School System and Community College of Baltimore County (CCCBC). She is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational technology at Bowie State University.
“I’m really thankful, and I love what I do, so it’s really like the cherry on top of the sundae just for others to say, ‘you know what, you are doing a good job,’” said Curbeam. “Now it’s about making sure I work harder and have a bigger vision to help us [Coppin] grow with technology and flourish.”
Although Tykesha Reed will receive the “Technology Rising Star” award, she is no newcomer to the STEM field. She has been a member of CSU’s technology staff for 11 years. After graduating with a bachelor’s in management science from CSU, Reed completed her master’s in instructional systems development and training systems and was promoted from Dr. El-Haggan’s assistant to her current position as help desk analyst.
Both Reed and Curbeam said they feel honored to be recognized for helping others.
“It feels good for me to know that I’m helping someone learn how to use the computer and helping them to be more efficient,” said Curbeam. “Ultimately, it enhances the students’ ability to learn and use technology in their classes. Just to know that I’m helping a big mass of people really makes me feel good inside.”
Curbeam and Reed share a passion for helping others master technology. “Technology is going to change our culture” said Curbeam. “I want to show people how to use it and teach them not to be afraid of it. I want to show them that within the right hands and when used properly, technology can help develop our society, can help make better people, and increase our capacity as educators and as a university.”
Coppin State University’s Information Technology Division has been recognized by national and international corporations as the 2008 Finalist for Education and Academic Computerworld Honors, the 2005 Network World Enterprise All-star, and the 2007 Microsoft Achievers of Maryland. They were also recognized in 2005 by EDUCAUSE, the prestigious technology non-profit organization, for Excellence in Networking: Innovation in Network Technology, Services, and Management. CSU was the first school in the state of Maryland and the first HBCU to receive such an award.