Alyssa Wharton

A person with majestic flowy brown hair and black framed glasses wearing a high-visibility safety vest and white hard hat.
MakerStudio Coordinator (Library Makerspace)
Departments:
Information Technology and Digital Services
Contact Information
Email:
whartona [at] uncw.edu
Office Location:
DH 1061

"Let's make it happen!"

Click here to schedule a time to meet with me.

Pronouns: they/them/theirs

EDUCATION

  • Currently enrolled in Masters of Instructional Technology program, UNC Wilmington.
  • BFA, New Media and Design, UNC Greensboro, 2013.  Entrepreneurship Minor.

EXPERIENCE

  • MakerStudio Coordinator, UNCW Library, UNC Wilmingotn, 2024-present.
  • Digital Makerspace Coordinator, Randall Library, UNC Wilmington, 2019-2024.
  • Digital Media Technician (Makerspace Manager), Jackson Library Digital Media Commons, UNC Greensboro, 2016-2019.
  • Administrative Support, Mathematics and Statistics, UNC Greensboro, 2015-2016.
  • Administrative Support, Bryan School of Business Dean's Office, UNC Greensboro, 2014-2015.
  • Digital Media Assistant (Makerspace), Jackson Library Digital Media Commons, UNC Greensboro, 2012-2014.
  • Freelance Artist and Designer, 2003-2020.

PRESENTATIONS

  • Cultivating Communities of Practice.  NC Makerspace Administrators, 2024.  Virtual.
  • Evolution of a 48 Hour Film Project.  Association for Creative Technologies in Academic Libraries Conference, 2024.  University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX.  Co-paneled with Jason Fleming (UNC Wilmington).
  • Technology seminar supporting greater curriculum integration.  Association for Creative Technologies in Academic Libraries Conference, 2023.  Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.  Co-paneled with Jason Fleming (UNC Wilmington).
  • If You Build It They Will Come: Exploring Makerspace Development, Growth, and Sustainable Operations.  Association for Creative Technologies in Academic Libraries Virtual Conference, 2023.  Virtual.
  • Risk & Reward:  Filament Recycling and Sustainability Explored.  Makerspaces for Innovation and Research in Academic Conference, 2023.  Virtual.  Co-paneled with Cole Morgan (UNC Wilmington).
  • Plastic Party:  Filament Recycling for Makerspaces.  North Carolina Librarians Association Conference, 2021.  Virtual.  Co-paneled with Jason Fleming (UNC Wilmington).
  • Makerspaces in Academic Libraries: Course Collaboration and Integration.  Construct 3D Conference, 2020.  Rice University, Houston, TX.  Co-paneled with Colin Nickels (NC State), David Romito (UNC Chapel Hill), and Hannah Pope (Appalachian State).
  • 0-100 Real Quick: Creating a Makerspace in a time of Budget Cuts.  The development of the Jackson Library Digital Media Commons during the NC Budget crisis.  Makerspaces for Innovation and Research in Academics Conference, 2019.  University of La Verne, CA.  Co-paneled with Dr. Armondo Collins.
  • How to go from "Not" to "Hot" in the Eyes of Potential Student Employees.  Raising the student employee pay matrix and offering professional development opportunities.  Triad Academic Library Association Paraprofessional Conference, 2018.  NC A&T University, NC.  Co-paneled with Lois Barnes Vinson.
  • Makerspace Table Talk.  Maintenance, operations, and logistics discussion.  Triad Academic Library Association Paraprofessional Conference, 2018.  NC A&T University, NC.  Facilitator.

INTERESTS

  • Makerspace Innovation and Pedagogy
  • Sustainability
  • Accessibility
  • Makerspace Development and Operations
  • Instructional Design
  • Microcredentialing
  • Makerspaces for wellness
  • Learner transfer between technologies
  • Digital Literacy
  • Digital Art
  • Illustration
  • Design
  • New Media and Tech Art
  • Instructional Design