91短视频

鈥淚f there was ever a question about what happened in the early days of technology at 91短视频, the go-to person was understood by everyone to be Joe Mast,鈥� says 鈥�72, special projects support for the provost鈥檚 office and former information systems director from 1999-2014. 鈥淚t was understood almost ubiquitously that 鈥楯oe would know.鈥欌��

For years, Professor Joe Mast was the forefront of technology at 91短视频. You鈥檙e not misreading that last sentence. Mast was not at the forefront; he was the forefront.

Mast graduated from EMC in 1964 with a degree in mathematics. Following graduation, he taught math and physics at Eastern Mennonite High School before enrolling at the University of Virginia in astronomy.

Mast鈥檚 research for his dissertation, conducted at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Greenbank, West Virginia, explored the motion and distribution of interstellar hydrogen clouds near the sun. It was during those studies that he was introduced to the new field of computer science.

In 1968, Mast returned to EMC to join the new department of physics with fellow professors Robert Lehman and John Horst (some of the information in this article comes from an article that John Horst wrote for , the mathematics department newsletter, upon his colleague鈥檚 retirement).

That same year, the first computer arrived on campus: The IBM 1130, which took up its own room in the new Suter Science Center, quickly captivated Mast. The next year (fall of 1969), he started teaching 鈥淣atSci 151 Programming Computers鈥� (in Fortran).

He used the machine to grade tests for professors in all departments 鈥� using a punch card system that, he jokes, indicated answers in a similar manner to 鈥渢he hanging chads in the 2000 election.鈥�

Mast started using email in the 鈥�70s, when addresses were comprised of two numbers (鈥�375,75,鈥� he easily remembers years later.)

Around this time, he also used a teletype, or electromechanical typewriter, to communicate with professors at UVa.

In those early days, Mast says modem connections allowed data transfers at 300 characters per second (2400 bits/sec). To put that in perspective, 鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to send a picture [today], that would be a million characters 鈥� now we send things at billions of characters per second.鈥�

Mast taught programming through the 鈥�70s, complimenting his autodidactic nature with coursework at then-Madison College across town.

Notably, he didn鈥檛 have a formal degree in computer science until 1986, when he earned a Master鈥檚 of Computer Science at University of Virginia. This was several years after he gained approval, in 1979, to introduce a two-year computer science degree, and in 1981, a four-year degree.

The field was so new at the time that many academics, with tentacular knowledge that spreads across linked fields, could tell similar stories about the genesis of computer science programs at colleges and universities around the country.

John Horst writes appreciatively of his colleague鈥檚 eclectic knowledge and teaching responsibilities: 鈥淭he span of Joe鈥檚 teaching responsibilities through the 1970鈥檚 and early 80鈥檚, was remarkable: teaching courses in astronomy, courses in the physics major, courses in the math major, courses in computer science, helping with planetarium programs, and on occasion teaching in the interdisciplinary humanities program!鈥�

With such knowledge naturally came the task of developing and supervising technological acquisitions. Mast served as Academic Computer Center Coordinator from 1980-85, during which time an Apple IIe word processing lab was installed (1983) and the first laser printer arrived (1987).

He also opened an Apple store for students, until the company took control of all sales.

In the mid-鈥�80s, Mast also taught courses in the Information Systems major developed by the Business Department.

In 1993, Mast wrote and submitted a National Science Foundation grant that resulted, the next year, in the internet鈥檚 arrival to campus. (NSF managed non-military Internet connections from the early 鈥�90s through 1998.)

鈥淭he internet is like a great big tree, so our connection went directly to James Madison, which went maybe to the University of Virginia,鈥� Mast explained. 鈥淲e were glad to have it funded.鈥�

In fall 1994, Dan Marple was hired to head the new Information Systems Department, while Mast was on sabbatical at UVa.

In his 38 years at 91短视频, Mast also taught physics, mathematics and astronomy classes (45 different courses total), as well as directing the M.T. Brackbill Planetarium.

Mast now lives in Lancaster, Pa. He was married exactly 50 years to Nancy Noll 鈥�67 Mast, who retired after 30 years as a teacher and administrator in the Rockingham County Public School. Nancy died in 2015. He has two married sons: Brian, a nuclear engineer with Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, and Darrell, a computer specialist at Data Computer Corporation of America in the department that handles the Medicaid program for the US government.