William (Bill) Ferns, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems
at the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College
of the City University of New York

My educational career has been a long and varied one. I include my high school because it has had much greater importance to me than my early college career.

• Ph.D. Computer Science, Graduate Center, City University of New York, 1995 Dissertation: "The Impact of Expert System Technology on Social Service Delivery". Kenneth C. and Mamie Phipps Clark Dissertation Fellow
• M.S., Computer Methodology, Baruch College, City University of New York, NYC, 1985; Master's Thesis: "Boolean Operators in Query Languages : A Study of the Contradictions between Formal Logic and Natural Language."
• B.A., Music Theory & Composition, Trinity College, Hartford, CT, 1974
• Regis High School, New York City

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Academic Experience

I have taught in Baruch's Department of Statistics / Computer Information Systems since I graduated with my masters degree in 1985.

• 1985-1987: Substitute Instructor
• 1987-1992: Instructor
• 1992-1997: Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems
• 1998-Present: Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems

Since the Fall of 2001, I have been concentrating on teaching courses on database design and implementation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. While at Baruch, I have taught the following courses:

Undergraduate Courses:

• CIS 1357--Introduction to Computer Information Systems (Now CIS2200) ; (Course Coordinator:1992 - 1995)
• CIS 3200--Business Applications Programming (COBOL I)
• CIS 3367--Small Business Computers I
• CIS 3400--Database Management Systems I
• CIS 4400--Database Management Systems II
• CIS 4450--Networks and Telecommunications I
• CIS 4800--Systems Analysis & Design
• CIS 5800--Information Systems Development Project
• CIS 4610--Expert Systems
• CIS 3259--Application Programming (was Fortran, then Pascal, now defunct)
• CIS 3368--Data Structures and Search Algorithms (now defunct)

Graduate Courses:

• CIS 9000--Information Systems for Managers
• CIS 9340--Principles Database Management Systems I
• CIS 9440--Principles of Database Management Systems II
• CIS 9590--Systems Implementation
• CIS 9610--Expert Systems
• MGT U847--Seminar in Management Information Systems (Doctoral level)

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Research

My research interests focus on two main domains. Most recently, I have been examing the diffusion of information technology (IT) in the non-profit sectors, particularly in the social services field. There has been a great deal of work on IT diffusion, but most of that has focused on business sectors. With demands for greater efficiency in both government and non-profit sectors, and the advent of managed care models, information systems are going to play a greater role in how public and non-profit organizations function.

My second area of research has been in the use of expert systems and other knowledge-amplifying technologies, particularly in the delivery of social services. The bulk of my writing to date has been in this area.

Journal Articles (Refereed)

• Ferns, W. J., Dologite, D. G., Mockler, R. J. & Pfeffer, R. "An Expert System for Juvenile Delinquency Disposition Advisement", accepted by Applied Artificial Intelligence, to be published in 1996, 44 pages.
• "Lifenet: A Knowledge-based DSS Tool for the Risk Assessment of Adolescent Suicide", Expert Systems with Applications, 9(2), 1995, pp. 165-176.
• Ferns, W.J. & Mowshowitz, A. "Knowledge-Intensive Systems in the Social Service Agency: Anticipated Impacts on the Organization", accepted by AI & Society, to be published in 1996, 40 pages.
• Rotheram-Borus, M.J., Walker, J.U., and Ferns, W.J. "Suicidal Behavior Among Middle-Class, Midwestern Adolescents Who Seek Crisis Services", Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52(2), 137-143.
• DiMartino, D.J., Ferns, W.J., & Swacker, S. "CDROM Search Techniques of Novice Users: Is the English-as-a-Second-Language Student at a Disadvantage?", Journal of the Association of College and Research Libraries, 56(1), January 1995, pp. 49-59.
• Dologite, D.G., Ryan, S.G. & Ferns, W.J. "The Undergraduate Introductory Computer Course: A Comparison of Advanced Students With Other Students", The Journal of Computer Information Systems, 31(2), Winter 1990-1991, pp. 50-55.

Conference Proceedings (Refereed)

• Ferns, W.J., Birdsell, D. S. & Van Ryzin, G. "Adoption of Computer-Mediated Communications in the Private, Non-Profit Sector," to be presented at the 1996 Americas Conference on Information Systems, Association for Information Systems, Phoenix, AZ, 16-18 August, 1996
• Ferns, W. J., Van Ryzin, G. & Birdsell, D. S. "Adoption of IT in the Private, Non-Profit Sector: An Empirical Study-in-Progress," to be presented at the 1996 Annual Meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute, Orlando, FL, 24-26 November, 1996
• Ferns, W. J. & Palley, M. A. (1995). "Information technology, diffusion, and the human services industry." In M.K. Ahuja, D.F. Galletta & H.J. Watson (Eds.) Proceedings of the First Americas Conference on Information Systems, Pittsburgh, PA, 2527 August 1995, pp. 249251
• Ferns, W.J. & Riedel, M.C. (1994). "Paraprofessional Use of Clinical Knowledge-Based Systems for Social Service Delivery". Proceedings of the 25th Annual Meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute, Honolulu, HA, 20-22 November 1994, 4 pages.
• Dologite, D. G., Ferns, W. J., Helft, B.L., Mockler, R. J. & Pfeffer, R. (1993). "Juvenile Delinquent Legal Advisement: Development of an Expert System Prototype". In D. F. Rogers & A. S. Raturi (Eds.), Proceedings of 24th Annual Meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute, Washington, DC, 21-23 November 1993, 2, 632634.
• "Expert Systems in the Social Service Agency: Anticipated Impacts on the Organization" in W. Hamel (Ed.), Proceedings of 11th Annual Conference of the Association of Management, Atlanta, GA, 4-9 August 1993, 11(1), pp. 46-51, Newport News, VA: Maximilian Press
• DiMartino, D.J., Ferns, W.J., Swacker, S., "A Study of CD-ROM Search Techniques by English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) Students", in M. Williams (Ed.), Proceedings of 1993 National Online Meeting, New York 4-6 May 1993, pp. 107-117, Medford, NJ: Learned, Inc.
• Ferns, W.J. & Helft, B. Loerinc, "Using Scenarios to Teach Ethics: Do They Cloud the Information Systems Perspective?", in B. Kleen (Ed.), Proceedings of 1992 Annual Conference of the International Association for Computer Information Systems held in New Orleans, LA, 3-5 October 1992, pp. 62-71.
• Ferns, W.J. & Dologite, D.G., "Developing a Knowledge-Based System for Evaluating Loans to Nonprofit Organizations", in W. Hamel (Ed.), Proceedings of the 10th Annual Conference of the Association of Management held in Las Vegas, NV, 5-7, August 4, 1992, pp. 19-23.
• "Lifenet: An Expert System for the Intervention of Adolescent Suicide", in B. Kleen (Ed.), Proceedings of the 1991 Annual Conference of the International Association for Computer Information Systems held in San Francisco, 3 October 1991, pp. 54-61.
• Ferns, B. & Helft, B. Loerinc, "The Use of Query Language Boolean Operators by Professionals", in P. Zunde & J. C. Agrawal (Eds.) The Proceedings of the Fourth Symposium on Empirical Foundations of Information and Software Sciences held in Atlanta, GA, 22-24 October 1986. New York: Plenum, 1987, pp. 211-222.

Chapters in Books

• Ferns, W.J. & Riedel, M.C. (1995) "The Expert System as a Metaphor for Professional Knowledge Development" in E.J. Mullen and P. Hess (Eds.) Practitioner-Researcher Partnerships: Building Knowledge from, in, and for Practice. Washington, DC: NASW Press, pp. 227-252.

Presented Papers and Exhibitions

• "Expert System Development as a Pedagogy for Building Social Work Skills"; Musher Symposium on Use of Computer Technology in Social Work Education, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, November 8, 1996.
• Ferns, W.J. & Riedel, M.C., "The Expert System as a Metaphor for Professional Knowledge Development", Knowledge for Practice Conference, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, March 3, 1993
• "Technology May Change How I Teach--Will It Change How My Students Learn?", March 3, 1992, Shared Visions: a Teach-In, sponsored by the School of Education and Educational Services, Baruch College.

Professional Honors:

Americal Library Association's Library Instruction Round Table "Top Twenty for 1995" for "CDROM Search Techniques of Novice Users: Is the English-as-a-Second-Language Student at a Disadvantage?"

Decision Sciences Institute 1993 Annual Meeting - 1993 Best Application Paper Award for "Juvenile Delinquent Legal Advisement: Development of an Expert System Prototype"

Kenneth B. Clark and Mamie Phipps Clark Fellowship, City University of New York, 1990/1991 - This fellowship is given to one doctoral student per year at CUNY to aid that student in doctoral research.

Teaching Excellence Awards, 1991, 1992 & 1993 - Baruch College School of Business and Public Administration.

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College Activities

Workshop on Advanced Information Systems for the Human Services (WAISHS)

I started the annual Workshop on Advanced Information Systems in the Humans Services (WAISHS) in 1993. These one day conferences are aimed at bringing researchers, IS professionals, and service providers together to address topics relevant to the use of IT in the social services sector.

CUNY/BA Faculty Mentor

The CUNY/BA program provides a way for 'non-traditional' college students to put together their own interdisciplinary majors with courses from various City University schools, transfer credits, and life experiences. CUNY/BA students get to use the entire university as their 'campus.' Many students in the CUNY/BA program have chosen to pursue information systems-oriented program, using Baruch as their main college.

Other College Activities:

• Developer & Coordinator of six credit Electronic Commerce module for the Zicklin Executive MBA Program, 9/2000-8/2001
• Zicklin School of Business Graduate Curriculum Committee, 5/99 - Present;
• Zicklin School of Business Executive Committee, 5/99 - 5/2002;
• Jack Nash MBA Honors Program (now the Full-Time MBA program), Founding Coordinator, 2/97 - 6/99;
• Member, Stat/CIS Department Undergraduate and Graduate Curriculum Committees
• Member, Baruch College Faculty Senate, 1992-1998 and 2004 to present
•      - Faculty Senate Subcommittee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility, 2/2001 - present;
• Secretary, Baruch College Graduate Faculty, 1995-1997

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Professional Activities

• Chair, Advisory Committee to TeamTech, 1997-present. TeamTech is an innovative collaboration between VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), IBM, and United Way, to provide VISTA volunteers to non-profit social service agencies. The VISTAs help those agencies develop and enhance their use of information systems for the goal of improving services to their clients. http://www.uwnyc.org/7team.htm#textstart
• Adhoc reviewer, Journal of End-User Computing, 1996.
• Adhoc reviewer, Journal of End-User Computing, 1996.
• Reviewer, Decision Science Institute Annual Meeting, 1996
• Organizer, 10th Annual Conference for Computers for Social Change, New York, June 1996
• Session Chair, First Americas Conference on Information Systems, Pittsburgh, PA, 2527 August 1995.
• Session Chair and Reviewer, Annual Meeting of the Decision Sciences Institute, held in Waikiki, HA, 20-22 November 1994.
• Reviewer, 12th Annual Conference of the Association of Management, August 1994.
• Reviewer, 5th International Conference of the Information Resources Management Association, May 1994.
• Reviewer and Session Chair, 11th Annual Conference of the Association of Management held in Atlanta, GA, 5-9 August 1993
• Reviewer, 1992 Annual Conference of the International Association for Computer Information Systems held in New Orleans, LA, 3-5 October 1992
• Reviewer, Application Software, 2nd edition, by Dennis Curtin, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1989
• Reviewer, Paradox: A Short Course, by Elizabeth Swoope Johnston, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1991
• Member, Decision Sciences Institute
• Member, Association for Information Systems

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Business Experience

Most of my computer-related business experience has been as a programmer, because I like to keep in practice:

• UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute: Consultant & Software Developer, 1/94-8/2001
• NYS Psychiatric Institute, NYC: Consultant & Software Developer, 9/87-12/96
• Panorama Computer Resources, NYC: Banking Programmer/Analyst, 5/84-9/85
• Digital Effects, Inc. Accounting Programmer/Analyst, 10/83-5/84
• Digital Effects, Inc. Computer Operator/Programmer, 2/83-10/83

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Music

My first career was in music. I earned my degree in Music Theory and Composition, and I spent several years performing in the Northeast United States. While I no longer make my living playing music, I still perform around the New York City area. I play usually under the moniker KID JAVA, and of late, I have been performing with my own band.

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Please direct any comments or suggestions to Bill Ferns.

RIP Carlton Candler (1961-2008)