Education

Certified Online Instructor, Academic Technology Center, University of West Florida (2006)
Ph.D., Computer Science and Engineering, University of South Florida (1997)
M.S., Computer Science, University of South Florida (1993)
B.S., Computer Engineering, University of South Florida (1992)

Teaching Experience

Associate Professor, School of Allied Health and Life Sciences, UWF (2008-current); Department of Biology/School of Allied Health and Life Sciences, UWF (2002-2008)
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, UWF (1997-2002; 1996-1997 Visiting)

Awards

U-Care Award, Excellence Matters Faculty and Staff Reward and Recognition Program, 2009.

Recognized for showing "innovation in the way her online classes are structured and in the projects she assigns", encouraging "students to embrace collaboration, teamwork, and innovation in the rapidly evolving field of health informatics", for being "quick to solve student technical issues, and, when needed, provide effective work-around solutions", and for being "knowledgeable and effective at making the online experience as personal as a seated course experience."

U-Make A Difference Award, Excellence Matters Faculty and Staff Reward and Recognition Program, 2008.

Recognized for demonstrating knowledge, quality, innovation, ownership, professionalism, stewardship and caring in creating assessment programs for SAHLS and Biology that were used as a model of excellence and put UWF on the national map for excellence in programmatic assessment. Also recognized for creating a comprehensive training program for online instruction for all of the adjuncts and full-time faculty teaching in Biology and SAHLS that has increased the quality of the online experience for students and has trained faculty to develop top-quality online courses.

Appreciation Award, Pensacola chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers, 2007

Recognized for helping to promote safety and health along the Gulf Coast by bringing quality occupational safety and health educational opportunities to Pensacola and the surrounding communities.

Certificate of Appreciation, Academic Technology Center, UWF, 2005.

In recognition and appreciation of efforts to develop and teach quality online courses and programs.

Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and Advising Award, UWF, 2002.

Outstanding Instructor of the Semester Award, College of Science and Technology, UWF, 1998.

Research Activities (selected)

Co-Principal Investigators: Sutton, M.A. & ter Haar, L. PI: White, L. Innovative New Programs for an Industry-Vested IT Workforce in Northwest Florida: Software Engineering Graduate Program. Florida’s Great Northwest, 2009, $282,728.

Principal Investigator: Sutton, M.A. Co-PIs: Hoyt, R., Mbizo, J., Hahn, A., Behan, K., & Stewart, G. Innovative New Programs for an Industry-Vested IT Workforce in Northwest Florida: Health Sciences and Technology Training Retreats for High School Guidance Counselors and Academy Directors. Florida’s Great Northwest, 2009, $10,000.

Principal Investigator: Sutton, M.A. Building High-Quality Online Programs at UWF: Support for Strategic Planning and Accreditation Efforts Using a Team-Oriented Model Emphasizing Quality, 360-Degree Assessment, and Public Accountability. UWF Pace Academic Development Grant, 2008, $25,000.

Project Mentor: Recycling Works: An Application of the EPA’s Quest for Less Program to the Bajo People of Indonesia. Submitted with Leslie Bennett, Undergraduate Research Project, College of Arts and Sciences, 2006, $1,000.

Principal Investigator: Development and Assessment of Bioinformatics Tools for Species Conservation and Habitat Management. UWF Summer Research Award, 2003, $6,250.

Principal Investigator: Development and Assessment of Protocols for Efficient Utilization of Large-scale Digital Mammography Databases. The Whitaker Foundation, 1999-2003, $208,080.

Principal Investigator: The Use of Function-based Reasoning in Goal-oriented Resegmentation: A New Computer Vision Approach to Drive Generic Object Recognition. UWF Summer Research Award, 2002, $7,500.

Principal Investigator: Developing a Cross-disciplinary Course of Distinction: Computer Vision. UWF College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Development Award, 2000, $5,900.

Committee Chair: Enhancement of UNIX-based Instruction and Course Delivery at UWF. UWF Enhancement Award, 1999-2001, $171,659.

Consultant: Assessment Instruments for Evaluating Undergraduate Research. University of the Pacific, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1999, $500.

Principal Investigator: Enhancement of Digital Mammograms. UWF/Solutia Small Research Grant, 1998-99, $2,000.

Co-PI: Web-based Curriculum Enhancement for Distance Learning and Supplemental Classroom Instruction in Psychology. UWF Distance Learning Initiative, 1998, $10,000.

Professional Memberships

Florida Public Health Association, 2008-current.
Southern Health Association, 2008-current.
American Public Health Association, 2007-current.
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, 2006-current.
American Medical Informatics Association, 2006.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 1989-2008.
Council on Undergraduate Research, 1997-2003.