La Toria’s experience spans over 30 years and includes roots in education, information technology, and a short stint in corporate America. Her passion for helping others helped define her current career choice of being a college professor. Passion for helping others, the ability to impart future skills, and having a role in the future of others define La Toria.
Corporate Experience
Office Technician Supervisor
Bureau of Insurance – State Corporation Commission
August 1989 – August 1993
Richmond, VA
Responsibilities:
- Prepared contingency plan for organization
- Installed hardware and software
- Diagnosed and resolved user technical issues
- Provided technical training to users
- Maintained inventory of hardware and software
- Evaluated premium finance company documents
- Generated graphs and reports for insurance examiners
Underwriter Technician
Great American Insurance Company
February 1988 – August 1989
Richmond, VA
Responsibilities:
- Analyzed consumer risks and determined premiums based upon the most appropriate risk factors for policy pricing
- Completed policy creation process and required forms for new and renewal business (insurance policies)
- Researched and gathered auto insurance policy data for underwriters’ final approval
- Supported LAN coordinator through troubleshooting and resolving on-site issues
Educational Experience
Lecturer of Computer Science
Randolph-Macon College (R-MC)
September 2021– present
Ashland, VA
Responsibilities:
- Teach courses in Computer Science (CSCI), including Exploring Quantitative Analysis
- Teach courses in Cybersecurity (CSEC), including Privacy and Security (Introductory course)
- Teach Yellow Jacket Student Success courses
- Participate in Capstone course evaluations and reviews, development of new curricula
- Submit textbook adoptions for CSCI courses
- Serve on various committees, including Assessment and Academic Integrity
- Update and develop CSCI course content
- Serve on various committees
- Freshman/Honors Program advisor
- Developed courses for Honors Program
Visiting Professor of Computer Science
Randolph-Macon College (R-MC)
September 2017 – August 2021
Ashland, VA
Responsibilities:
- Teach courses in Cybersecurity (CSEC), including Privacy and Security (Introductory course)
- Teach Yellow Jacket Student Success courses
- Participate in Capstone course evaluations and reviews, development of new curricula
- Submit textbook adoptions for CSCI courses
- Serve on various committees
- Update and develop CSCI course content
- Serve on various committees
- Freshman/Honors Program advisor
- Developed courses for Honors Program
Professor/Adjunct for Department of Information Technology
John Tyler Community College
August 2010 – May 2017
Chester, VA
Responsibilities:
- Taught Information Technology courses using online and in-person delivery at community college and Tyler Early Academy (high school)
- Courses include: Introduction to Network Concepts, Desktop Database Software (Access), Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts (Office 2007 – 2016/Windows 7-10), Spreadsheet Software (Excel), HTML
Assistant Professor/Program Head of Information Technology
John Tyler Community College – Chester Campus
August 1996 – September 2001
Chester, VA
Responsibilities and Accomplishments:
- Teaching Faculty
- Taught courses in networking, software usage and development, and programming
- Developed semester schedules, including faculty assignments for course offerings
- Compiled and submitted online book orders
- Evaluated textbooks for new and existing courses
- Promoted, developed, and revised Information Systems Technology curricula and course content summaries
- Advised students on course selection and career pathways based upon chosen degree or certificate program
- Marketed and promoted Information Systems Technology department during recruitment fairs and distribution of curricula materials to current and prospective students and their families
- Supervision
- Supervised 2 lab assistants and up to 40 adjuncts and staff
- Oversaw the interviewing and hiring for adjunct faculty and instructional assistants
- Budget
- Managed $8,000 instructional technology departmental budget
- Assessment
- Served on reaffirmation of accreditation team
- Collaborated with workforce development for hiring of instructors and shared utilization of classroom space
Major Accomplishments:
- Online
- Pioneered online instruction for information technology courses
- Scheduling
- Streamlined course scheduling through the development of a flexible two-year scheduling guide based upon information technology course offerings
- Grants
- Analyzed information technology success rates, while reviewing course curriculum yielding more successful student outcomes
- Recipient of the following grants:
- development of web design curriculum
- development of web-based course
- writing across the curriculum in information technology courses
- development of course content summaries
Instructor/Program Head of Information Technology
Paul D. Camp Community College – Franklin Campus
August 1993 – June 1996
Franklin, VA
Responsibilities and Accomplishments:
- Teaching Faculty
- Taught courses in the areas of applications, system software utilization, and computer terminology
- Advised students on course selection and career pathways based upon chosen degree or certificate program
- Designed curricula to reflect current changes and required skills in information technology
- Scheduling
- Prepared semester schedule for Computer Information System (CIS) department on the Franklin campus through the coordination of Suffolk Campus program head
- Supervision
- Directed the activities of adjunct faculty for adherence to academic policy and providing appropriate class instruction
- Managed the repair and maintenance of computer equipment in student lab
Major Accomplishments:
- Spearheaded training and develop a series of Internet courses for community librarians
- Member of reaffirmation of accreditation team
Instructor
Kee Business College
February 1987 – February 1988
Richmond, VA
Responsibilities:
- Taught business courses including information processing, business math, records management, word processing, and computerized accounting
- Revised syllabus and lesson plans in accordance to expressed goals of the course
- Developed learning assessments to streamline the correlation between the theoretical and the practical perspectives of course content
Information Technology Experience
Professor/Coordinator of PeopleSoft Programming and Product Support
John Tyler Community College
August 2002 – May 2017
Chester, VA
Responsibilities and accomplishments:
- Supervision
- Supervised departmental staff, including full-time/part-time programmer analyst(s), consultant(s), and administrative assistant
- Facilitated PeopleSoft support team meetings when applicable
- Advised 12 support and functional staff in the utilization of Oracle/PeopleSoft for the processing of PeopleSoft Student Information System (SIS), Human Resource Management System (HRMS), and Administrative Information System (AIS) for all functional areas, which included student records, financial aid, workforce development, student financials, security, accounts payable, and general ledger
- Technical Support
- Guided college departments and end users in defining functional and technical requirements for current business needs
- Diagnosed and resolved system problems
- Implemented upgrades of PeopleSoft products
- Coached users in the usage of SIS, AIS, and HRMS functional areas including student financials, financial aid, workforce development, student records, accounts payable, general ledger, and human resources
- Engineered table setups to coincide with current business processes for all functional areas
- Supported PeopleSoft Helpdesk for all college faculty, staff, and administrators
- Training
- Adapted system materials to support PeopleSoft upgrades and implementations
- Assessed past implementations to develop better training materials for future implementations
- Reporting
- Co-authored system-wide reports including Technology Plan and Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)
- Developed ad-hoc queries and reports used to verify data for new report implementations
- Provided support through the development, maintenance, and troubleshooting of reports and queries extracted from PeopleSoft and other data sources for all college departments
- Reconciled issues arising from data validations of new and existing queries and reports
- Executed various PeopleSoft processes and other reports to provide college-wide system support in areas such as enrollment cancellation, service indicator placement/removal, automated placement test automated uploads, degree verification reports, and productivity analysis of instructor workload
- Budget
- Administered $10,000 departmental budget to support college PeopleSoft functions
Major Accomplishments:
- Successfully led the college through four Oracle/PeopleSoft implementations and upgrades including versions 7.6 to 9.0 for student information system (SIS), administrative information system (AIS), and human resource management system (HRMS)
- Project manager and lead supervisor to consultant in the development of a new scheduling system used to streamline schedule upload process for college website and public communications
Assistant Professor/Coordinator of Information Technology
John Tyler Community College- Workforce Development
October 2001 – July 2002
Chester, VA
Responsibilities and Accomplishments:
- Supervision
- Hired and supervised faculty instructional activities for up to 25 workforce development adjuncts
- Oversaw daily functions of 7 staff members
- Provided managerial support to staff on daily functions and decisions affecting the organization
- Marketed and promoted workforce development center through seminars, workshops, and industry promotional activities
- Wrote contracts and proposals for clients in accordance to specific training needs
- Prepared schedule of classes for workforce development center brochure, college website, and printed schedule
- Collaborated with director and consultants on the selection of course materials
Major Accomplishments:
- Successfully developed, planned, and managed $20,000 state-wide Office suite training
- Recipient of Information Technology mini-grant for the development of network security class