Professor Lisa Rich is a faculty leader who combines strong academic credentials with relevant professional experience. Prior to coming to Athens State University in early 1992, she had an exciting career in the computer field where she worked in all areas of information systems including customer support, software development, systems analysis, software customization, training, and marketing. These varied experiences enable her to pass along wisdom to help students succeed in computing careers. As Dr. Tom Jandebeur, former Arts & Sciences Dean stated, “Dr. Rich’s private-sector work experience adds considerable strength and credibility to the University’s Computer Science major, especially to the Computer Information Systems option.”
For past 9 years, Professor Rich served as either Department Chair or lead faculty for Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, and Management of Technology programs within the Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Business. Currently, as Chair of the Management of Technology Department, she is developing new programs to increase enrollment and attract students to Athens State, for both campus and online degree options. In these roles, she is responsibile for:
- training and mentoring of colleagues
- curriculum development
- class scheduling
- technology implementation and evaluation
- textbook selection and course design
- adjunct faculty training and recruitment
- assessment of online course content and format.
She also advises over 65 students in three degree programs, each year, evaluating transfer coursework, recommending scheduling options, and providing career advice. Professor Rich recruits and mentors qualified adjunct instructors and is actively involved in the promotion of Athens State and recruitment of students from community colleges across the state. Professor Rich has served the University in many other ways on numerous standing and search committees, and has been actively involved in all aspects of student life at the University. As a faculty member, Professor Rich has developed, evaluated, and instructed students in campus and distance courses including:
Lisa served as marketing consultant for this rapidly growing ERP consulting firm. She developed marketing plans, identified business needs, and managed creation of marketing collateral materials and website updates. In addition, she updated the customer relationship management database, added content to the corporate blog, and submitted press releases to e-commerce publishing organization. As required, Lisa mentored new marketing employees on marketing needs assessment and planning, and created marketing plans to move the company into e-commerce marketing to reach 21st century clients.
Professor Rich taught Introduction to Computers, Microcomputer Applications, and various computing courses focusing on word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database components of the Microsoft Office and Works suites of software.
Lisa served as client contact and account manager for this rapidly growing software consulting firm. She developed project plans, identified scope, and managed software implementation projects. In addition, she generated leads, developed proposals, and negotiated consulting contracts that increased the company’s revenues tenfold. Lisa created marketing plans and implemented strategic alliances that enabled the firm to significantly exceed its growth objectives. As required, she conducted onsite training and consulting for clients.
Marketing Consultant (1991 to 1992)
As an consultant, Lisa actively organized and participated in Joint Requirements Planning (JRP) and Joint Application Design (JAD) workshops to determine and prioritize software requirements for client/server Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. She established and managed user design teams to define functional and technical ERP requirements, review design prototypes, and participate in usability testing of the client/server software. Her responsibilities also included the development of implementation plans for software product marketing, training, maintenance, and support processes. She also served as subject matter expert to develop education materials, user and technical documentation, and on-line help for software systems.
Marketing Brand Manager
During her job as Marketing Manager, Lisa accurately identified markets for existing and emerging ERP software products. She evaluated and prioritized proposed software development projects based on input from the customer advisory board, support consultants, and the international sales force. Lisa followed Rapid Application Development (RAD) software methods to initiate and monitor software development programs to adapt products to changing market and customer demands.
Business Analyst
Working with the President of the Business Unit, Lisa worked to analyze the workflow of the product support group and restructured it into a new professional services organization to provide consulting services to software customers. She studied software processes of international entities and recommended new procedures for consistency and reusability. Additionally, she developed and managed the integration of a newly-acquired company that initiated the firm’s expansion into the personal computer market.
Product Marketing Analyst
Lisa modified software including databases, forms, queries, and programs to customize benchmarks for prospective customers. She responded to request for proposals (RFP), developed marketing materials, presented software capabilities to prospective clients, and attended trade shows to demonstrate software functionality. As a part of the software development team, Lisa produced software lifecycle documentation including feasibility assessments, requirements definitions, design specifications, business plans, implementation plans, usability tests, and marketing plans for new software products and services. In addition, she provided high-quality training for international sales force by teaching the capabilities of the Benefits Administration, Human Resource, and payroll software systems.
Systems Consultant
During her first position with the firm, Lisa developed, implemented, and supported customized and pre-packaged ERP software for Fortune 500 clients. She served as problem-solving resource for customers through telephone support and onsite consultation and successfully trained hundreds of professionals in technical and functional capabilities of software systems.
Programmer/Analyst
At AT&T, Lisa resolved program abnormal ends (ABENDS) and Job Control (JCL) errors, and balanced discrepancies for the company’s payroll system. She interfaced with line personnel and financial officers in the maintenance of the current system and the development of new programs. Lisa was involved in the conversion of many small sub-systems into one corporate system giving management a tool with which to make informed decisions. She helped standardize system documentation to allow ease of operation and modification.
