Chase Lawson

Student Intern-Archiving & Library Assistant at the United States Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C.

Major: Political Science

Briefly describe your internship, including your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

My work at the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) has been with Library Services and Content Management & Library Technical Information Services(LSCM & LTIS).  I work on a daily basis to catalog government documents that are currently not available via the internet and further enhance public access by adding the Congressional Record, Federal Register, and Federal Court Rulings, among others, to FDsys (GPO's Federal Digital System). I also worked on implementing further automation and technology to the Depository Distribution Division in support of the Federal Depository Library Program immense feat of shipping thousands of publications, worldwide.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company and what have you found most challenging?

I enjoyed the vast amount of responsibility I was given to work in support of the Federal Digital System and add to its expansive database. The most challenging part of my job is locating lost or undocumented government publications via web & internal databases. It is truly like detective work and can be very tedious and time-consuming.

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another summer activity?

I have gained knowledge on administering large web-databases and the logistics behind running such a marvel of modern technology. I have also associated with a very large and diverse group of civil servants and contractors at GPO. Additionally, I established a firm and reliable work ethic. My day begins at 4:45 A.M. and I don’t return home for almost 13 hours later.

How do you see your summer work as meaningful? Has it given you a chance to work on issues or with communities that matter to you?

I worked on meaningful projects that not only keep America informed, but provide knowledge and ultimately power to the American people. This internship has certainly given me a chance to not only personally benefit, but also help the American public do so.

How has your summer experience shaped the way you think about your power to impact the world?

I believe in Democracy and knowledge is power. I helped empower the general public by providing a more transparent view of the government and its functions. As our society continues to transition into the digital age, GPO will be on par and committed to providing access to information, in a hi-tech and advanced manner.

*UPDATE*

Four out of the five UMBC teams who competed in the Maryland Cyber Challenge & Competition's (MDC3) second qualification round this weekend have made it through to the finals. These teams will compete at MDC3 2012 on October 17 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Congratulations to all five UMBC teams who made it past the first qualifier round of this year's Maryland Cyber Challenge & Competition (MDC3), which took place the weekend of September 20-21. The five teams will move on to the second qualifier round this weekend. They will be up against teams from UMUC, UMCP, Towson, Capitol College, Montgomery College, and FSU. The MDC3 finals will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center from October 16-17. To learn more about the upcoming competition, visit the website.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Department invites applications for several non-tenure track positions in Computer Science at the rank of Lecturer and  Professor of the Practice, to begin in Spring 2013 (January 2013) or Fall 2013 (August 2013). Candidates with interest and experience in all Computer Science areas will be considered. Applicants should have at least a M.S. in Computer Science or a closely-related field. Ideal candidates will have evidence of strong teaching skills as well as academic, industry or government experience. Primary duties will include teaching computer science courses at the undergraduate level.

• Lecturer/Professor of Practice, Computer Science (non-tenure track)

• Lecturer, Computer Science (non-tenure track)

About the department. CSEE is UMBC’s largest department, with 34 tenure-track faculty, six teaching faculty and 16 research faculty. The department currently has about 1100 undergraduate students in two programs, computer science and computer engineering, and 250 graduate students in three core programs, computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering. The department also manages a graduate program in cybersecurity.

About UMBC. UMBC is a selective, medium-sized public research university ranked by the Carnegie Foundation in the category of Research Universities with high research activity. In 2012, for the fourth year in a row, U.S. News & World Report ranked UMBC number one among “Up and Coming” national universities, “schools everyone should be watching.” UMBC also received its fourth consecutive “Top Ten” finish among schools having “a strong commitment to teaching undergraduates.” UMBC is a two-time winner of the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Our location. UMBC’s convenient, suburban campus is located just minutes off I-95 between Baltimore and Washington DC, and less than 10 minutes from the BWI-Thurgood Marshall International Airport. It is surrounded by one of the greatest concentrations of commercial, cultural and scientific activity in the nation. Located at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore has all the advantages of modern, urban living, including professional sports, major art galleries, theaters and a symphony orchestra. The city’s famous Inner Harbor area is an exciting center for entertainment and commerce. The nation’s capital, Washington, DC, is a great tourist attraction with its historical monuments and museums. Just ten minutes from downtown Baltimore and 30 minutes from the Washington Beltway, UMBC offers easy access to the region’s resources by car or public transportation.

To apply. Submit a cover letter, brief statement of teaching experience, academic, industrial or government experience, and complete CV at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/aaa Only applications submitted via this site will be considered. Applicants should arrange for three letters of reference to be sent via the same website. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. For best consideration, apply by October 30, 2012. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

UMBC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is a recent recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE award to promote hiring and advancement of women in science and engineering. We welcome applications from women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.