Currently, I work for The University of Tennessee on the Knoxville Campus in the Ofiice of Information Technology (OIT). Specifically, I work in the Web Services Group, which is part of OIT.
Recently, I was heavily involved in the redesign of the University's website, and the creation of templates for departmental use based on this design. I also assist with the development and implementation of the university's search engine. As well as development within the myUT portal.
Other projects I have contributed to include:
- Admissions website (Undergraduate)
- Admissions website (Graduate)
- College of Law
- Exempt Staff Council (Knoxville Area)
- Gifts and Giving
- Health Science Center
- Office of Information Technology
- Faculty Computer Upgrade Program website
- Staff Computer Upgrade Program website
- Office of the President
- Office of the Chancellor and Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Various and sundry other projects
some personal history
I was born in 1971 in Tallahassee Fl, where my father was continuing his education with graduate studies at Florida State University. After that my father taught at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas where I spent the majority of my childhood.
When I was twelve my mother's sister got married and on our visit to Miami my parents decided to move there so that my father could start his own computer consultation firm. Eventually, however my parents both had to find real work, so my mother started a job at Lord & Taylor where she still works as a department manager. My father worked as a computer consultant for several firms in the Miami area until he finally found a permanent position in the Information Technologies Department of Metro-Dade County, where he has worked for the past several years.
I attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School for three years and was actively involved with the band program. I was in Concert Band and Marching Band all three years and Jazz Band for two years. I played (and still do occasionally) alto saxophone and baritone saxophone. My favorite saxophonists are Branford Marsalis, Gary Mulligan and Paul Desmond.
In August of 1992, my family and I were in Miami when Hurricane Andrew came through town. We had choosen to stay in our home and ride the storm out there. Big mistake!!! We were in the house when a big boom sounding like a howitzer came from our living room. It turns out that part of the roof of our house was violently removed by the wind and the windows of our living room were actually blown out of place. We spent the remainder of that night huddled in a bathroom-the only room in our house with no windows in it.
about my family
my wife
I met my wife, Rachelle Edwards, while we were both students at the University of Tennessee in the spring of 1995. We began dating in October of that year, and we got married in May of 1998. Our wedding announcement is online in the Oak-Ridger's archive.
Rachelle graduated from UT in December of 1997 with a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Rachelle works for Eagle Bend Manufacturing in Clinton, TN. Eagle Bend is an automotive parts manufacturer whose corporate parent is Magna International Inc.
my parents
My parents are Deborah and J. Terry Edwards of Miami, FL. Both of my parents grew up in Miami and they went to Miami Palmetto Senior High School, the same high school that my brothers and I did. My father attended the University of Miami, before continuing his education at that other school, Florida State University. My father left UM with a Bachelor's degree and FSU with two degrees: a Masters and a Doctorate. So my old man is a Ph.D. Pretty spiffy...
Well, my dad went on from there to teaching at the college level and my mother went about the task of raising my brothers and I. But pretty soon my father got himself hooked up with personal computers and before we knew it he was calling himself a computer consultant. After several short term positions with various firms in the Miami area, my dad found a job with Dade County in the Information Technologies Department. One of his duties was working on the official home page for Dade County.
My mother couldn't find enough to keep her busy when my brothers and I were old enough to fend for ourselves, so she went out and found herself a job in the Receiving Department of the Dadeland Lord & Taylor. Lord & Taylor is a New York based department store. My mother has worked at that store since its opening. She has since left the Receiving Department, and is now the Manager of the Better Dress Department. She has worked all over that store in several departments, including Men's Collections, Home Fashions, Women's Sportswear and Dresses. Currently the Dadeland store is closed while it undergoes extensive renovation. In the meantime, she is working at the Aventura Lord & Taylor.
my brothers
I have two brothers. One is older than me and the other is younger than I am. Both of them have served our country in the United States Marine Corps.
My older brother's name is Kenneth, but as a kid everybody called him Kenny, although we all call him Ken now.
My other brother's name is Douglas but ever since childhood he has been Doug. He has recently graduated from Florida International University. He is the baby of our family and is currently looking to enter the job market with his new-found college degree. Congratulations, Doug! Among the places he has visited is the Cuban resort of Guantanamo Bay, while he served in the Marine Corps Reserve.
my in-laws
My in-laws, Joyce and Phil Reichle, live in Oak Ridge, TN. Phil participated in NROTC and graduated from the University of Missouri, earning a commission in the United States Navy. Phil served overseas in Vietnam. Joyce attended the University of New Mexico, where she and Phil met. They had one date when Phil came home from Veitnam on a visit, but corresponded while he was overseas. After Phil's return from Vietnam, he proposed and they were married in Oak Ridge, where Joyce's parents were then living. (Joyce's father was employed at Oak Ridge National Labratory.) Oak Ridge was chosen partly because it was between Boston, where Phil was stationed, and Albuquerque, where Joyce was living prior to her graduation. After Phil's active duty ended, he contiuned to serve in the Naval Reserve, and eventually they settled in Oak Ridge, TN. Currently, Phil is a self-employed (semi-retired) CPA/tax advisor, and Joyce is a teacher's aide in Oak Ridge City Public Schools.
My brother-in-law, Philip, and his wife, Jennifer, live in Nyack, NY, where Philip is currently attending Alliance Theological Seminary with the intention of becoming a missionary someday. Jennifer is the Hall Director for a dormitory at Nyack College.
Congratulations to my brother-in-law Philip and his wife Jen on the birth of their son, Caleb Amariah Reichle. Caleb was born June 4, 2003. He weighed in at 7 pounds 11.5 ounces and was 20 inches tall. Mom, Dad and baby are now at home and are doing fine. Rachelle and I are looking forward to our trip to New York next month, so we can visit Philip, Jen and Caleb.
all the rest...
- JoAnne Essig
- My aunt on my father's side
- Jolie Nobles
- My aunt. Jolie is my mother's sister. She has three kids: Nichole, Jennifer, and Brett. Brett is also my Godson. Walter, her husband, passed away in 2000.