Zachary Carmichael, MS ICT (May 2018)

Zachary Carmichael graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in music and a concentration in classical guitar. Carmichael completed graduate coursework in music theory prior to joining the graduate program in information communication technology (ICT) in Fall 2016. In addition to studying as a full-time student, he works at UK’s Special Collections Research Center where he is responsible for digitizing various collections and photo editing.  

“It has been a rewarding experience because I have learned a great deal about the library science profession and have been able to apply skills acquired from ICT courses, such as information architecture and user-centered design,” Carmichael said.   

Carmichael will graduate with a Master of Information Communication Technology in May 2018.

“My favorite ICT class was Human-Computer Interaction because it introduced me to user-centered design and the principles that go into designing everyday things. I feel like these concepts will always be useful because products and services can always be improved upon.” Carmichael said.

As part of the degree requirements, students are expected to observe, synthesize, and evaluate theory, methods, and skills acquired from coursework in a practicum towards the end of the program. Carmichael began his practicum in January 2018 with Bath County School District as a help desk technician.

“Because my internship is a help desk position in a K-12 environment, I have seen firsthand the issues teachers face with basic technology problems,” Carmichael said. “By providing technology resources to them in the form of a how-to website, we can empower these individuals to handle basic troubleshooting tasks while freeing up the workflow for IT staff in school districts.”     

Carmichael is an avid game player. One of his favorites is playing the Pokémon Trading Card Game. He has traveled across the country to compete for scholarships and cash prizes in a variety of these events.

When asked his advice to current or prospective students, Carmichael said, “Take courses in a variety of subjects and consider researching topics outside of the classroom. There are many free, online courses offered through edX and Cybrary that let you go at your own pace while learning relevant IT skills to make yourself more marketable.”