New UPA President takes over Stateside

Whitney Quesenbery is to replace outgoing UPA president Elizabeth Rosenzweig after three years, this January. She is joined as a new director of the UPA by Paul Sherman, Kerrie Green and Dave Mitropoulos-Rundus.

Quesenbery runs WQusability and has been Director of Outreach for the UPA, the Past-Manager and Webmaster for the STC Usability SIG, and a member of the Executive Committee for UXNet, as well as an active participant in local usability groups. In 2003 she was given the STC Distinguished SIG Service Award. She is on an Advisory Board for the Federal Election Commission on human factors for voting systems.

She is taking over from Rosenzweig, who served for the last three years as president and leaves the position with these thoughts:

'UPA stands in an important place in our industry. We are well equipped to be the advocate for people in the development of new technology. Technology only works when it is useful and when it can help people get things done. I recently attended seminars at MIT and saw some stimulating presentations for technical developments that help people who are physically challenged. These included a new prosthetic device, developed at MIT for paraplegics and quadriplegics, so that they can walk, run and function like someone with a biological limb. This opens up huge areas of ability for people who are physically challenged. This prompted someone to say, "Technology has the ability to heal." I like that image of technology and see wonderful opportunities for our members to be part of teams that develop work that enhances our lives. We have a lot to be proud of.'

Rosenzweig now takes up the role of UPA Co-Director of Outreach.

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