Ahmadi Joobaneh, Mehrnaz

Mehrnaz Ahmadi Joobaneh

Credentials: (She/Her)

Address:
Application Infrastructure Services (AIS)
Integration Engineer

Biography

Mehrnaz is an Integration Engineer with the Division of Information Technology’s Application Infrastructure Services at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. As a member of the dynamic Integration Team, she supports key integration platforms used across campus and manages several enterprise integrations that power essential systems and services.

One of the highlights of her role at UW–Madison is collaborating with the university’s diverse communities. Her passion for community and inclusion has led her to actively participate in several campus initiatives, including the UW Women in IT Steering Team. She also proudly represents UW–Madison on the Big Ten Academic Alliance Women in Technology (BTAA WIT) group. In 2024, Mehrnaz received the Ellen La Luzerne Award for Community Engagement award.

Outside of work, Mehrnaz enjoys spending time with her children and exploring new hobbies that keep her inspired.

Belman, Laurel

Laurel Belman

Credentials: (She/Her)

Email: laurel.belman@wisc.edu

Address:
Division of Information Technology (DoIT)
DoIT Communications
Event Planner

Biography

Laurel Belman plans and executes internal and external DoIT events and meetings. Some of the events she coordinates include Cybersecurity Forward, IT Professionals Conference, and IT Projects Forum.

Ms. Belman earned her B.A. from Lawrence University in History and her M.A. from the University of Leicester in Museum Studies. Before DoIT she planned and executed events at the UW Law School Research Centers including symposiums and speaker series. She has planned and executed events and programs at the Kansas Museum of History and Smithsonian National Museum of American History. She has developed museum exhibitions at the Kansas Museum of History and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Her publications include “Bronx (1970s)” in Places of Invention (Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 2015) and numerous articles on invention and museum objects. Her academic interests include invention and innovation, museum exhibition, and English History.

2023 Session

Meet IT Connects

2022 Session

How to Write Emails about IT for Non-IT Readers

Cummins, Mary

Mary Cummins

Credentials: (She/Her)

Address:
Wisconsin School of Business
Web Development and User Experience (UX) Manager

Biography

Hi, I’m Mary. I’m the Web Development and UX Manager at the Wisconsin School of Business. I’ve been building websites since I was 10-years-old, and I’ve worked in web development and UX in both corporate and higher education settings. I’m passionate about UX, information architecture, CSS, and content strategy. In my free time, you can find me doing yoga or riding my bike.

2023 Session

How to use a Design Sprint to guide your Next Big Web Project

2021 Sessions

Learn CSS Grid and Flexbox in 1 Hour!
Lunchtime Yoga – Live Activity

2020 Session

Session 1: Quick Tips for Improving UX and SEO
Session 2: Lunchtime Yoga

Morrow, Mandy

Mandy Morrow

Credentials: (She/Her)

Email: mandy.morrow@wisc.edu

Address:
UW Libraries
Associate Director of DesignLab

Biography

Mandy Morrow has been the Associate Director of DesignLab since January 2018 and is an employee of the General Library System. She originally came to UW-Madison to pursue a PhD in Hebrew & Semitic Studies focusing on the linguistics of ancient metaphors before leaving her studies to take a position in DesignLab. She holds a Master of Arts in Classical & Ancient Near Eastern Studies, a Master of Arts Archaeology, and a Master of Theological Studies in Old Testament. While a student, she taught courses in English, Classics, Religious Studies, Jewish Studies, Hebrew Bible, and Literature in Translation at UW-Madison, and prior to working in DesignLab she held a student lead position in College Library’s Computer and Media Center for four and a half years. She currently serves on the steering committee for the UW-Madison IT Professionals Conference and the UW-Madison Undergraduate Symposium and has provided workshops and guest lectures for various departments/divisions, organizations, and communities of practice across campus. She has always had a passion for video/audio production and graphic design and has recently been researching digital literacy and user experience.

2025 Session

Networking and Games

2023 Session

Virtual Games

2022 Session

CommunITea Presents Campus IT Organizations Drop-In Sessions

2021 Session

IT Connects CommunITea – Networking Event

2020 Session

Lunchtime Games

2019 Session

What on Earth is $acronym_of_campus_IT_unit?

Nemec, Al

Al Nemec

Credentials: (He/Him)

Email: al.nemec@wisc.edu

Address:
Division of Information Technology
Digital Accessibility Program Manager

Biography

Al Nemec serves as the Digital Accessibility Program Manager at the Center for User Experience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his passion for inclusive web design and digital accessibility shines through. With a rich background as an experienced web designer and developer, Al is dedicated to ensuring digital platforms are accessible to all users, embodying the Center’s commitment to excellence in user experience. His expertise and leadership in the field drive the development of more accessible, user-friendly digital environments.

2025 Session

Making Digital Accessibility Work: Practical Strategies that Stick

2023 Session

There’s an Innovator in Everyone (a panel perspective)

2022 Session

Building with Blocks: Implementing the WordPress Gutenberg Editor

2020 Session

Serverless Without Compromises

2018 Session

Leveraging Campus API’s with Vue JS

Ray, Jay

Jay Ray

Credentials: (He/Him)

Email: jay.ray@wisc.edu

Address:
General Library System
Library Technology Group (LTG)
Technology Operations Manager

Biography

Jay Ray has spent his entire career in higher education technology across the non-profit sector, proprietary education, and public and private institutions, specifically focusing on help desk support and management, infrastructure design and implementation. In 2014, Jay took the role of Technology Manager within the UW-Madison Libraries, where he manages staff and services across multiple campus libraries through help desk support and services such as technology-enabled classroom spaces, computer labs, poster printing, and technology circulation. Along the way, Jay has spearheaded programs to ensure that the libraries remain in sight of what students and faculty on campus need and want out of their educational institution’s library facilities.

2025 Session

Planned Obsolescence: Turning a Technology Fallacy into a Leadership Strategy

2023 Session

Gap to the Future: Conducting a Gap Analysis to Identify Team Specific DEIB Strategies

Thornton, Amanda

Amanda Thornton

Credentials: (She/Her)

Email: amanda.thornton@wisc.edu

Address:
Space Science & Engineering Center
Software Developer/Engineer

Biography

Amanda Thornton is a team lead and software developer supporting researchers and research administrators at the UW Madison Space Science and Engineering Center. She is a co-chair for Leadership Improv and UW Women in IT and organizes the DataWonks and the Distributed Developers Communities of Practice. She is committed to creating inclusive communities for everyone and received the 2020 UW Madison CIO Award for Community Engagement. Outside of work you’ll find Amanda at the rink teaching adults how to play ice hockey.