codebykat
10/17/2014 - 8:06 AM

resume.md

Kat Hagan

kat@codebykat.com

http://codebykat.com

http://github.com/codebykat

Summary

I'm a purposeful programmer with a strong CS background and focus on web application development. I'm passionate about mentorship, open source software, and technology that teaches, connects and inspires.

Technologies

  • Extensive WordPress experience (plugin development, custom post/taxonomy types, theming); at home with the web frameworks Ruby on Rails, Django and Flask; familiar with PostgreSQL, MySQL, and database abstraction layers (SQLAlchemy, Active Record).

  • Well-versed in modern JavaScript patterns (Node, React, Flux, Redux), common building blocks (jQuery, Underscore, d3.js) and next-generation browser capabilities (e.g. HTML5, CSS3).

  • Fluent in PHP, JavaScript, Ruby, and Python; comfortable in many languages, including C++, Java, Perl, and Matlab.

  • Conversant with version control systems (Git, Subversion), agile programming methods, and test-driven development.

Employment

Team Lead and Code Wrangler @ Automattic

March 2014 - Present

As part of Team I/O, I work on the WordPress.com REST API, the new WordPress.com post editor, and third-party integrations, among other projects. Since May 2015 I have been team lead of our five-person group, enabling my teammates to do their best work, as well as working as a programmer, code reviewer, project manager and overall cat herder.

OPW Intern w/ WordPress

June - September 2013

As a participant in GNOME's Outreach Program for Women, I removed the Post By Email functionality from WordPress core and rewrote it from the ground up as a standalone plugin. This allowed me to deepen my WordPress expertise and internalize best practices for WP development. Even more importantly, I learned the ins and outs of contributing to a large, community-maintained project. After the internship period, I am continuing to work on the next version of the plugin and provide support in the WordPress forums.

Freelance Web Developer

January 2012 - February 2014

I worked on a variety of client projects using Rails, WordPress, Django, and other technologies. The ever-changing nature of freelance work fulfilled my desire to be very self-directed and my love of new challenges.

Ruby Developer @ Pikimal

February - December 2011

At Pikimal, a Pittsburgh start-up, our small development team utilized a modified agile methodology to extend and improve the beta version of the site. One of my earliest tasks at Pikimal was upgrading the codebase from Rails 2 to Rails 3; I later focused on social and gamification features to build a greater sense of community.

Programmer Analyst @ CCNMTL

August 2007 - January 2011

Being a programmer at Columbia's Center for New Media Teaching and Learning required not only a wide variety of technical skills — from web development to system administration — but the ability to switch smoothly between multiple projects, budget my time to meet the frequent deadlines of an academic calendar, and communicate effectively with co-workers and faculty. Due to our small staff size and short project lifecycles, it was necessary for me to be highly self-directed, work closely with almost everyone in the office, and learn new technologies quickly.

New Media Associate @ CCNMTL

August 2006 - July 2007

CCNMTL's New Media Associates provide multifaceted support to the department and faculty. My job called upon customer service and troubleshooting finesse, the ability to multitask and be self-managed, and technical skills that ran the gamut from expertise in web technologies to UNIX shell scripting.

Software Engineer @ Boeing-SVS, Inc.

June 2003 - June 2005

At Boeing-SVS, I worked on several demanding, high-profile projects. These included a multi-part system for signal processing and an internal manpower-tracking database.

Education

  • M.S. Computer Engineering, Columbia University (May 2007)

  • B.S. Computer Science, University of New Mexico (May 2004), with a minor in Art Studio (Photography)