Kevin R. Parker, PhD | Idaho State University

Information Systems prepares students for a wide variety of careers, including systems analysis, application software development, web development, and database design.

Our curriculum is made up of courses designed to provide students with the strong technical background needed to develop solutions to today's information challenges. There is a wide variety of opportunities for trained and skilled professionals in every sector of society who can turn information into actionable knowledge.

Information Systems is a rewarding and challenging field that allows for lifelong learning. Job opportunities are plentiful, and salaries are relatively high. The demand for information systems graduates is increasing faster than the general demand for most other fields of study. Job seekers with an information systems degree and strong communication and administrative skills are in increasing demand.

Dr. Parker

I am Professor of Information Systems and former Chair of Informatics and Computer Science at Idaho State University. I have been a faculty member in the College of Business since 1999, and I've taught Information Systems courses as well as Computer Science courses. Prior to joining academia, I developed software systems for Conoco, Inc., among the top Fortune 500 companies.

I was selected the 2011 Faculty Member of the Year by the Associated Students of Idaho State University, and was recognized as an Outstanding Master Teacher by ISU in both 2011 and 2012. I also received the ISU College of Business 2002-2003 Outstanding Teacher Award.

I received the ISU College of Business 2005-2006 Outstanding Research Award, and in 2007 was awarded a Curtin University Research Fellowship in Perth, Australia.

For more information, click on the "ePortfolio" or "About" links above.

Teaching

The hallmark of my teaching is thorough course preparation and genuine dedication to my students. I have taught a wide range of courses throughout my many years of teaching. While I am comfortable teaching most topics, I particularly enjoy development-related courses, including any programming courses, web development, systems analysis and design, and database design and implementation.

Research

My research involves an ongoing exploration of the skills and knowledge that information technology graduates need and how they can be best prepared to obtain them. That research falls into three major streams:

A discussion of my research is available in my Research Overview.

Recommendations

Because a good letter of recommendation is very time consuming, I can provide recommendation letters for only a select number of students.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you request a letter:

Did you make an effort to ensure that you would be positively memorable?
Have you ever interacted with me beyond the classroom?
Have you taken more than one course with me?
Did you receive a grade of 'B' or higher in all courses that you took from me?
Were you active in the ACM student organization?

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If you answer "no" to any of the above questions, chances are that I will be reluctant to grant your request. You want a letter from a professor who can reflect on specifics about your personal characteristics or accomplishments, rather than vague generalities. You want a letter that highlights your achievements in a course, rather than a lukewarm semi-endorsement.

Since I get so many requests for letters, if I agree to provide a letter I require each student to write a draft letter that I can then edit. That ensures that I cover the information that the student wants covered, and also means a little less time and work for me! So in order for me to provide you with a letter of recommendation, you must meet the requirements above and you must provide me with a draft letter that I can use as a basis. Use this link as a guideline.

Be sure to follow up. The absent minded professor is more than just a cliché. I'm very busy and may forget to write your letter. Don't hesitate to check in periodically to see if the recommendation has been sent. But don't be a nag.

Once I've provided a letter please keep the following in mind:

Say thank you! Write a thank-you email note.
Keep me posted! Let me know if you get the job, the internship, or admission to graduate school.

Oh, and don't forget that many professors are on nine month contracts. We don't get paid during the summer months, so our "free" time really is FREE! You should be especially grateful for letters of recommendation that are written for you over the summer months, and don't expect immediate turnaround times.

Facebook

Join the ISU Informatics / Computer Science Group on FaceBook here. It gives you the opportunity to network with professors and fellow students, and to view department updates, interesting IT-related information, and posts offering internship opportunities and job opportunities.

The Facebook page for the ICS ACM student organization can be found here. Every CS and Informatics major should be actively involved in this organization.