Photo by Jessica Maloney,
UNH Human Resources

How does one create a newsletter to disseminate CIS information to a diverse audience; one that runs the gamut from technophile to technophobe? The folks at CIS seem to have found a formula that makes such content alluring and engaging for everyone, and Martin England's contributions play an enormous role. As the main writer and photographer for Signals, the monthly newsletter of CIS, Martin states, "I sometimes feel I am more of an interpreter than a writer. I know enough about technology to decipher and explain technical subject matter to the campus community." As a result of Martin's translation skills, Signals, unlike other IT newsletters whose comprehension requires familiarity with jargon, is an accessible read for anyone. Interspersed with information on training calendars, department initiatives and events, are glimpses of a decidedly more human and organic subject matter than usually associated with computing, perhaps representative of the CIS focus on technology in service of customer needs and concerns. At any rate, these glimpses, such as Martin's photography of local scenes, display the artistic talents that underlie the department.

Martin's poetic, philosophical and sincere writing style is in stark contrast with usual expectations for the traditionally dry material of IT newsletters. Showcased in such features as CIS Sketches, this style does as much to lure in a less technologically-focused reader as it does to humanize the CIS department for the broader community. The sketches, which offer personal profiles of CIS employees, display the depth and dimension of the individuals who work there, many of whom appear, like Martin himself, to be incredibly multi-faceted and multi-talented individuals. Martin maintains that writing this feature is the most satisfying aspect of his position; "I enjoy meeting and interviewing various members of CIS and sharing their stories with the campus community. It has allowed me the privilege of getting to know people on a first-hand basis, and that, in turn, has helped me create a network of contacts across CIS, which comes in handy when writing about other CIS related-subjects. I have also forged many new friendships through this process as well." Apparent in CIS Sketches is Martin's sense of privilege and responsibility for dignifying all aspects of the individual's experience, which results in a consistently respectful portrayal.

Aside from his responsibilities as Staff Writer for CIS, Martin has many other creative outlets. He has been writing, performing and recording music since the age of twelve. He is singer/songwriter for the local band Pondering Judd, who "perform weekly around New England, and have recorded and released three CDs of original material…with a fourth project in the fold (coming out sometime in Spring 2004)." His writing has been featured in local newspapers and regional publications in the Arts & Entertainment sections. He is also a baseball enthusiast and avid Red Sox fan; "my dream job is to be a baseball writer for the Boston Globe." Until that time, the University community is fortunate to have Martin's skills applied to the articulation of the CIS vision.