Karen Carter

About Karen Carter

I began programming when I was 12 years old and never stopped. I love programming and software engineering and I can\'t imagine doing anything else with my life. I have worked on web apps, desktop apps, databases, user interfaces, and server-side code using Windows, Linux, Macs, and even actual UNIX. I love it all. Designing a properly normalized database schema, creating an intuitive and easy to use user interface, mentoring interns and less experienced developers, writing an elegant and concise server-side script, hashing out requirements with a customer and exploring their workflow, collaborating with other IT professionals to solve an obscure problem, researching and then learning new techniques or technologies to solve a new-to-me kind of problem, keeping up with the latest trends in my areas of interest. All of it makes my heart sing. Except for configuring Apache, but I\'ll still do it if I have to.I am a firm believer in using whichever technology will best solve a particular problem. In my current role that means primarily using Ruby on Rails to improve and maintain several large web apps and their associated very large databases. But there is no One True Language (or framework, operating system, database management system, hardware brand.) that works best for everything, so I will learn whatever tools I need to in order to solve the problem at hand.I love learning almost as much as I love programming. I am currently learning Spanish and graphic design, as well as improving my embroidery skills. Over the last few years I\'ve also been exploring the intersection of programming with arts and crafts. My projects have included creating a 6 foot in diameter light-up Death Star, assorted Arduino projects, 3D printing, wearable electronics, and more.I\'m also passionate about encouraging and helping those who are just learning programming and hoping to enter the field of software development, as well as those looking to advance to the next level in their journey. In addition to formal and informal mentoring plus participating in online forums for those learning to code, I have really enjoyed trying to de-mystify essential topics that many find inaccessible, such as git. I am working on a number of blog posts that try and fill in some of the gaps that somehow still persist, despite the plethora of tutorials and walk-throughs already out there.

Experience

1. Staff Software Engineer

   WellSky

   Jun 2022 — Present

Education

• New Mexico State University

  Non degree seeking, Computer Science, Web Development, etc.

  2016

• New Mexico State University

  Master of Science (M.S.), Computer Science

  2008 — 2013

• University of Arizona

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Computer Science, Mathematics, German Studies

  1998 — 2002

Skills

• Java Enterprise Edition
• Rdbms
• Jquery
• Fortran
• Hsqldb
• Xml Schema
• Perl
• Servlets
• Dojo
• Java
• Ruby
• Css
• Ssl
• Apache Flex
• C++
• Xml
• Database Design
• Html
• Microsoft Sql Server
• Javascript
• Ant
• C
• Algorithms
• Mysql
• Jdbc
• User Interface Design
• Tomcat
• Xslt
• Cascading Style Sheets (Css)
• Software Engineering
• Jsp
• Ruby on Rails
• Database-Driven Web Applications