Debby Telfer, DCS

  • Program Director, Computer Science and Information Technology 
  • Longmont, CO
  • Computer programmer. Real-world academic. Pragmatist.

CTU Faculty - Debby Telfer
  • Linked In
  • Twitter

Education

Doctor of Computer Science (2000), Colorado Technical University; Master's Certificate in Project Management (2000), George Washington University; MS in Information Resource Management (1994), Syracuse University; BS in Computational Math (1982), Rochester Institute of Technology.

Background

Debby Telfer served the U.S. Army Armament Research and Development Command (New Jersey) for nearly five years as a mathematician, programmer and engineer. For 19 years, she worked as a programmer, software developer/engineer, project manager, and account manager for IBM. She also held the position of director of MIS for MessageMedia in Colorado.

Telfer has held numerous positions at CTU, including adjunct faculty, full-time faculty, campus director and program director. She served as the Dean of CIS – Business and Bioinformatics for DeVry University, and Dean of Undergraduate Education and Acting Vice President of Academic Affairs for Jones International University.

Academic Specialization/Focus at CTU

Computer Science and Information Technology

Computer Science Blog

Information Technology Blog

Why are YOU IN?

I am a success story because of higher education which culminated with me earning my doctorate at CTU. Facilitating learning based on my years at IBM and DOD as well as contacts with outside industries allows me to share this with my students so they feel confident in pursuing their own career goals. I believe in the values CTU has set forth for their faculty. I also believe I am in good company with highly esteemed faculty and industry experts.

Learn Debby's CTU Story.

What is your teaching philosophy?

I strive to model a real-life example when presenting material they will have to embrace to develop their own projects. Similar to coaching, I do all the assignments I am asking my students to do with a real-life example. This builds credibility plus lets them see why individual assignments are necessary. I also share the positives and negatives when I experience this firsthand in industry. Through it all, I get to be myself when I instruct my classes.

Aside from higher education, what else are you passionate about?

Staying active and fit – I recently participated in a leg of the 24-hour relay in Moab, Utah; a Colorado Marathon 10K, and the Honolulu Marathon 10K. I also have run in the New York City Marathon and the Pittsburgh Marathon (placing 169th). In college, I played on the women’s varsity hockey team, and set five school records in track. My other passions include: hiking in the Rocky Mountains, teaching crochet and knitting. Presently, I am involved with “Loops for Love” to assist in making 1,000 hats and scarves for the homeless in the Boulder County area.

Publications

+
  • Telfer, D. (2000). A Simulation Comparison of Information-On-Demand Techniques for Remote Stand-Alone Kiosks. Colorado Technical University; Greenwood Village, CO (doctorate dissertation).
  • Telfer, D. (1997-2000). Business Management Systems (BMS) – Administrator & User Classes. IBM Global Services Customers Training Sessions; Toronto, Canada; Raleigh, NC; Chicago, IL; Endicott, NY; Boulder, CO; Madrid, Spain; Paris, France (developed & taught class 25 times – each session 1 week).
  • Telfer, D. (1995). Developing IBM’s Business Advisor Application in a SAS Environment. SAS User Conference (presentation and paper).
  • Telfer, D. (1994). A Study of Using Multimedia to Stimulate Cognitive Learning for Children with Reading Disabilities. Syracuse University; Syracuse, NY (master’s thesis).
  • Telfer, D. (1993). PENNANT SYSTEMS Field Support – A Decision Support System for Product Managers (US). Information Resource Management – IBM Technical Conference; Thornwood, NY (presentation & paper).
  • Telfer, D. (1992). A Discussion of Data Management within the Plant Floor Environment. ELECTRO International Conference; Boston, MA (presentation & three papers published in proceedings).
  • Telfer, D. (1992). Implementing an EIS System Using a Data Modeling/Object Oriented Approach. EIS/DSS Management Update Meeting; Somers, NY (televised presentation & paper).
  • Telfer, D. (1992). Automating the Measurements Process. Productivity Application Development Tools – IBM Technical Conference; Boca Raton, FL (presentation & published Technical Report).
  • Telfer, D. (1991). Automating the Measurements Process. MDQ In Action Forum – IBM Technical Conference; Endicott, NY (presentation).
  • Telfer, D. (1991). Software Test Problem Reporting with IDSS and PTRSUM. IBM IDSS Users Conference; Rochester, MN (presentation & published Technical Report).
  • Telfer, D. (1991). Application Integration for CIM. ELECTRO International Conference; New York City, NY (presentation & published in proceedings).
  • Telfer, D. (1991). Effective Project Management Using PMCP; guest instructor for IBM Education & Skills Dynamics; Endicott, NY; Franklin Lakes, NJ; Charlotte, NC; Toronto, Canada (20+ times developed & taught class).
  • Telfer, D. (1988-1992). Effective Project Management Using PMCP on AS. IBM Technical Symposium; Austin, TX (1988); IEEE Conference, Binghamton, NY (1990); IBM Productivity Application Development Tools Technical Conference, Cary, NC (1990); SHARE Conference, Chicago, IL (1991); IBM 4th Productivity & Process Tools Symposium, Thornwood, NY (1992); (presented at all of these conferences, published in the proceedings of each, and published as a technical report).
  • Telfer, D. (1988). Using AS for Project Management. IBM Productivity Application Development Tools Technical Conference, Thornwood NY (presentation & published Technical Report).
  • Telfer, D. (1987). Using Decision Tables to Improve the Program Development Process. IBM Productivity Application Development Tools Technical Conference; Thornwood, NY (presentation & published Technical Report).

Awards or achievements

+
  • 2004. Career Education Corporation, "Educator of The Year" Finalist
  • 2001. Outstanding Professor Recognition, IBM MSM Students & In Whitman Annual Report
  • 1999. Division Award ($5000), IBM – Global Services Division
  • 1997. Recipient of patent number 5664183, "Application of groupware to ISO 9000 registration via facilitated work sessions"
  • 1997. Patent Award ($2500), "Application of Groupware to ISO 9000 Registration via Facilitated Work Sessions," IBM – Patent # 5,664,183
  • 1996. Magazine Article Recognition, "Information Week" and "Computer World" articles written by SAS about my role as architect on an IBM Project
  • 1995. Invention Disclosure Award ($2500), "Application of Groupware to Project Management via Facilitated Work Sessions," IBM
  • 1995. Technical Achievement Recognition, IBM – Printing Systems Division
  • 1995. Division Team Award ($1500), IBM – Printing Systems Division
  • 1993. Second Level Authors/Publications Achievement Award, IBM
  • 1991. First Level Authors/Publications Achievement Award, IBM
  • 1991. Division Award ($5000), IBM – Microelectronics Division
  • 1991. PRPQ Product Release, "Project Management Control Package (PMCP) Tool," Entrepreneurial Development
  • 1988. Finisher, Pittsburgh Marathon
  • 1987. Finisher, New York City Marathon
  • 1981. Senior Athletic Award, Hockey & Track Teams, Rochester Institute of Technology
  • 1981. "Athlete of the Week" Honor, five school records in women’s track (1/2 mile, 1500meter, 1 mile, 4x400 relay, 2 mile), Rochester Institute of Technology

Professional memberships

+
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) by PMI
  • Project Management Institute (PMI)
  • Mile-Hi Denver PMI Chapter