Tag Archives: North Carolina state university

Introducing our new CTO, David Motsinger!

by Annie McQuaid

Please join us in welcoming David Motsinger, our new Chief Technology Officer at WebAssign!

David comes to us with more than 20 years of experience in the computer software industry, most recently from StrikeIron, Inc., where he served in the same capacity for nearly seven years. Previously, he was co-founder and CTO of Covelight Systems, a security technology company that was sold to Radware in 2007. Prior to that, David was co-founder and CEO of GadgetSpace, a wireless application infrastructure company started in 1999 and sold to InPhonic in 2001.

“David’s combination of technology prowess and track record of building successful companies and teams made him an ideal fit for WebAssign,” our president, Alex Bloom, commented. “As we continue to experience double-digit annual growth, it was important to find someone who could build and lead a technology team to support that growth. David brings the experience and leadership necessary to help drive WebAssign’s continued technical innovation.”

David was raised in Forest City, N.C., and attended North Carolina State University where he graduated with a computer science degree in 1989.  In addition to working, he is also an investor in two North Carolina restaurants, Zely & Ritz in Raleigh and Piedmont in Durham, and enjoys participating in triathlons.

New Content Available in WebAssign!

by Annie McQuaid

We are always working to add new content to our current question offering.  The following textbooks are now available in WebAssign for classroom use.

Astronomy
Mathematics
Physical Science
Physics

Looking for a Great Job?

by Annie McQuaid

WebAssign is hiring!  WebAssign’s 150+ team members enjoy generous employee benefits, flexible work schedules, a fully vested 401(k) plan, and a work environment that values creativity and social enterprise. Our location on beautiful Centennial Campus at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, allows employees access to many university facilities.  Check out the following open positions that we are hiring for and visit our employment page to learn more!

  • Multiple Build Engineers
  • Multiple Software Engineers
  • Senior Software Engineer must have exp with Ruby on Rails
  • Software Engineer must have exp with Ruby on Rails
  • Manager of Technical Operations
  • Manager of Application Development
  • IT Infrastructure Manager
  • Systems Engineer
  • Information Security Analyst
  • Accounting Manager
  • Front Desk Coordinator
  • Physics Coders
  • Math Coders

Meet Our Visioneers: Rachel McAuley

by Annie McQuaid

This week’s employee spotlight is on our new Custom Visioneer, Rachel McAuley, who brings to this position an impressive bank of WebAssign knowledge from her many years working here.  Rachel attended North Carolina State University, and used WebAssign extensively as a student in several different courses and disciplines, before graduating with a degree in Business Management in 2006. Her prior experience with WebAssign gave her a unique perspective when she joined the WebAssign team in November 2008.

Rachel’s first position at WebAssign was as a Researcher on the User Experience Team. She helped to get student and instructor feedback on proposed new features and updates to the WebAssign application by conducting a broad range of research including usability tests, interviews, surveys and focus groups. The information gathered in this research was used to make sure that new features were helpful to users, as well as easy to understand and use.

Rachel then transitioned to the Sales team, where she worked as an Implementation Specialist. She worked with instructors and course coordinators at large accounts throughout the Midwest to conduct training with new and experienced instructors, as well as helping to make sure instructors’ pedagogical goals were being met while using the WebAssign application with their students.

Now working as the Custom Visioneer, Rachel oversees custom projects at WebAssign, primarily focusing on developing and implementing Physics and Chemistry Lab courses from various schools into WebAssign.  Her vast WebAssign experience helps her to partner with Lab Coordinators to provide students with interactive assignments that enhance their laboratory learning.  To learn more about WebAssign’s Custom Lab Program please visit http://webassign.net/labs.

When she’s not working, Rachel enjoys traveling, playing games, and spending time with her husband, Mike and dogs, Lucy and Patches.

Meet Our Content Experts: Prabha Ramakrishnan

by Annie McQuaid

We are fortunate at WebAssign to have a strong team of content experts who work to direct the focus of our product so our customers get the best experience possible.  Prabha Ramakrishnan is an integral member of this team, focusing on our physics content, and will elaborate further on her impressive experience herself.

Even as I made plans to retire from the Physics Department at North Carolina State University, I knew that I could not completely retire from my involvement in education.  I joined WebAssign in July 2008 and have since enjoyed working part time as a Physics Content Expert. This has continued to provide me the necessary intellectual stimulation as well as the interaction with a highly dedicated and enthusiastic team of co-workers which I enjoy. I have crossed over from being a user to becoming part of the WebAssign team.

After a Bachelors and Masters degree in Physics from the University of Madras, India and several years of teaching experience in two and four year colleges also in India, I enrolled in the doctoral program at North Carolina State University. After receiving my PhD in Nuclear Physics, I joined the faculty in the Physics department. As a graduate student I was awarded the Best Graduate Teaching Assistant award and later as faculty was honored to be  inducted into the Academy of Outstanding Teachers at North Carolina State University.

My career at North Carolina State University had two phases; what I call the pre and post sailing days. In 1991 I resigned from my job, sold our house and all personal belongings to spend the next 5 years living aboard our 37-foot sailboat. My husband and I, accompanied by our black lab, sailed the east coast, the Chesepeake Bay, the Florida Keys and the Bahamas.

Once back on land, we lived in Carteret County and I taught Physics at Carteret Community College. While there, I applied for and received a mini grant from the college so students in my class (all 15 of them!!) could use WebAssign. Little did I know that I would one day work at WebAssign!

While I enjoyed life at the coast, I was very happy to get back to Raleigh and teach at NCSU. This time around, I coordinated the Introductory Engineering Physics courses and was also very involved in working with the TAs in the introductory physics labs. As course coordinator, I created and deployed assignments on WebAssign for multi-section courses, collated and managed lab grades using the WebAssign Gradebook and generally served as the go to person for faculty having any questions regarding using WebAssign.

The wandering lust is still very much in my blood. Now my husband and I along with our 3 cats take one or two extended trips a year in our RV.  We recently returned from a wonderful time in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. While on the road I take my laptop with me and continue to fulfill my responsibilities as content provider for WebAssign.

When I am not working, I spend time in my home studio where I create art quilts, knit, bead, as well as weave baskets. There are not enough hours in a day; I am busier now than when I worked full time!