February 2025

Black Technologists Who Changed the World

February is Black History Month, which celebrates and honors “the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout [American] history,” in the words of former president Gerald Ford. Clark ITS would like to highlight a few pioneers, both past and present, who made incredible contributions to the field of technology.

Dr. Valerie Thomas, inventor of 3D technology

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Valerie Thomas attended Morgan State University before joining NASA as a data analyst in the 1970s. She oversaw the creation of the Landsat program, which used images taken by satellites to document and monitor geographic changes around the globe. Those in Clark’s geography department have Dr. Thomas to thank for making geographic imaging processing possible.

In 1980, Valerie Thomas was awarded a patent for the illusion transmitter, which uses parabolic mirrors to make images appear three-dimensional. This technology revolutionized the way NASA transmitted images from space, and has since been integrated into TV, film, and medicine.

Click here to read more about Valerie Thomas

Dr. Mark Dean, IBM extraordinaire

Dr. Mark Dean displayed his talents early on: as a child, he and his father built a tractor from scratch in their hometown of Jefferson City, Tennessee, and Dr. Dean regularly tutored older students in advanced math, such as trigonometry. After graduating with honors from University of Tennessee in 1979, he went to work for IBM and helped bring the first mass-market home computer, the 5150 IBM PC, into American homes in 1981.

Later, Dr. Dean pioneered Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) within computers. This groundbreaking system allowed users to “expand PCs with memory, disk drives, printers, and monitors, by plugging them directly into computers.” Modern computing—and our USB accessories, such as webcams—would not be the same without Dr. Dean’s contributions. He holds over 40 patents and a place in the National Inventors’ Hall of Fame.

Click here to learn more about Mark Dean

Lisa Gelobter, multimedia maven

Without Lisa Gelobter, the multimedia aspect of digital spaces may never have evolved. Imagine the internet without games, videos, GIFs, streaming, or music—it would be a completely different world.

Gelobter was an engineer and program manager for Shockwave, an early interactive media software that gave life to ‘90s video games. The digital animation developed at Shockwave was later repurposed to create GIFs – animated pictures like this one, often used online to react to a statement, question, or post.

Gelobter also worked on the launch team for Hulu and within the Department of Education during the Obama administration. Currently, she is co-founder and CEO of tEQuitable, an independent platform designed to foster diversity and create healthier work cultures.

Click here to read more about Lisa Gelobter

Roy Clay Sr., the godfather of Silicon Valley

Roy Clay was one of the first Black students to graduate from St. Louis University in 1951. Back then, there were no degrees in computer science—Clay graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Despite being turned away from the first company he interviewed at due to his race, Clay Sr was soon writing software for the U.S. Department of Energy which predicted radiation patterns after nuclear explosions.

David Packard, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard (HP), recruited Clay in 1965. A year later, Clay Sr led the team that brought HP’s first computer, the HP 2116A, to market, and wrote most of the software it used to operate. For over a decade, Clay’s work at HP helped found the field of computer science and the technological hub of Silicon Valley.

Clay went on to found his own company, which manufactured tools to test electrical safety. He was also the first Black person to serve on Palo Alto City Council.

Click here to learn more about Roy Clay Sr.

Data Privacy and Security, February 2025

Cybersecurity and Valentine’s Day: A Heartfelt Lesson

Once upon a time, in the bustling city of Clarksville, lived a young woman named Maya. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, she wanted to surprise her partner, Alex, with a special gift. She decided to buy an exquisite piece of jewelry from an online store she had discovered through a social media ad.

Excited, Maya clicked on the link and landed on a beautifully designed website offering a wide array of dazzling jewelry. The prices were unbeatable! Without a second thought, she filled her cart and clicked the checkout button. However, just as she was about to enter her payment details, a little voice in her head reminded her of the cybersecurity tips she’d learned at work.

“Always verify the authenticity of an online store before making a purchase,” she recalled. Maya decided to take a moment to do some quick research. She checked for reviews of the website, searched for its name on scam alert forums, and even looked for a secure connection indicated by “https” and a padlock icon on the website’s address.

To her surprise, she discovered that the site had been flagged by multiple users as a scam. Many had reported losing their money and never receiving the items they ordered.

Determined to find a safe and reliable source for her Valentine’s gift, Maya turned to a well-known online retailer with a solid reputation. This time, she verified all the necessary details, ensuring that the site had a secure connection and excellent customer reviews. She found the perfect piece of jewelry for Alex and completed her purchase with confidence.

On Valentine’s Day, Maya presented Alex with the beautiful gift, and they both celebrated their love and the smart decision Maya had made. Maya’s caution and vigilance had saved her from a potential cyber disaster.

A few days later, Maya shared her experience with her friends at a coffee shop. They were astonished at how close she had come to being scammed and praised her for her prudence. Maya explained how easy it was to be lured by attractive deals and how crucial it was to verify the legitimacy of websites before entering personal and payment information.

Her friends listened intently, and one of them, Jasmine, shared a similar story about how she had almost fallen for a phishing email that claimed she had won a free vacation. The email had looked so convincing, but Jasmine had remembered to check the sender’s email address and the legitimacy of the offer, which saved her from potential identity theft.

The moral of the story? Always stay vigilant and do your research before making online purchases, especially when buying something special for your loved ones. By following simple cybersecurity practices, you can ensure a safe and happy Valentine’s Day.

Digital and Information Fluency, February 2025, Tips and Tricks

Tech Tips: Common Tech Vocab

Last month, we covered some common tech acronyms used both on campus and within the wider world of technology. This month we’re going over some more tech terms you might hear from members of ITS, in future editions of Bits & Bytes, or when contacting the Help Desk.

Asset tag

All Clark-managed devices–including chargers, desk phones, and more—have an asset tag on them which shows a barcode, a 6-digit number (the asset number), and the Clark logo. This tag helps ITS keep track of university assets so they can be used and serviced efficiently.

Banner

Banner is the name of a product from Ellucian that is our finance, HR, and student management application. This application has two different ways to interact with it. Administrative staff use Banner Admin which provides detailed access to information. Most members of the community use CUWeb to register for courses, enter your time off, and access budget information. Both Banner Admin and CUWeb are part of Banner.

Cache

Cache refers to temporary storage on your device where frequently accessed data, such as website images or recently opened files, are stored for quick retrieval.

By keeping this data readily available, a cache helps to speed up processes and improve performance. If the cache grows too large, it can slow down your computer—which is why it’s so important to restart your device on a regular basis.

External drive

An external drive is any storage solution you plug into a computer. They come in many forms, including USB or thumb drives, as well as larger towers or “bricks.” These are used to store and back-up files in a location separate from your computer for security and storage purposes.

File Explorer

File Explorer is the app used on Windows computers to navigate different storage locations on your computer. You often use File Explorer to organize, open, move, rename, and copy files from one location to another.

Finder

Finder is the app used on Mac devices to navigate different storage locations. You use this app to organize, open, move, rename, and copy files from one location to another. Finder also allows you to browse, open, or delete installed applications.

Kandji

Kandji is a management software used by Clark ITS to send out updates to Clark-managed Macs. It allows ITS to make sure Clark Macs are up-to-date and secure, as well as help you update apps on your Mac on your own schedule.

Shortcut

A shortcut is a link to a specific file, folder, or webpage, often hosted on the desktop of a computer to make it easier for you to access certain apps, sites, or files. It is not the file, folder, or webpage itself; it simply points you to the right place with one click.

Reset password

Resetting your password is different than changing your password. When you reset your password, you don’t know your previous password, so you need to use different authentication methods (such as a phone number or the Microsoft Authenticator app) to verify your access and create a new password. When you change your password, you know your previous password and use that as verification.

Announcement, February 2025

FYI from ITS

A few reminders and announcements!

Moving tech equipment? Let us help!

If you need to move monitors, computers, docks, or other equipment to a different office, give the ITS Help Desk a call. We’ll work with you to make sure everything’s set up correctly and update the equipment in our system, so we know where to find it for future repairs.

Checked your voicemail message recently?

A lot has changed regarding calling on campus with the transition to Teams Phones. Give your office number a call to make sure your voicemail message is accurate and up-to-date.

Restart your device about once a week

Restarting your device improves speed and performance by clearing your computer’s cache (mentioned in this month’s Tech Terms article). If Outlook’s starting a little too slow, or you need to clear up space, make sure you’re restarting regularly.

Check which version of Office you’re using

If you’re using a PC, ITS recommends using Office 2021 for the best experience with your Microsoft apps.

How do I check?

Click the Windows logo located in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and search for Microsoft Word.
Open the app.
From the Home page of the app, click Account.
You’ll see your version of Office on the Account page.
1. If you’re using Office 2016 or Office 2019, schedule a time to update at a time that works for your schedule. Click here for instructions on updating to Office 2021

February 2025

Operating System Upgrades Available for Both PCs and Macs

While ITS recently announced that Clark-managed PCs are now eligible for upgrades to Windows 11, don’t worry—the Macs aren’t missing out! Clark-managed Macs (as well as most personal Mac devices) can now upgrade to macOS Sequoia.

Regardless of which computer you use here at Clark, you can conveniently upgrade your operating system on your own schedule—no need to coordinate with ITS or stop by the Help Desk (although you’re always welcome).

If you’re using a Clark-managed Mac, check the Kandji app to see if you have the Sequoia update. Look for Kandji Self-Service in Applications.

Click here to check if your device is compatible with macOS Sequoia

Click here for instructions to update to macOS Sequoia on a personal Mac

Click here for more information on Windows 11

FAQ

Why is it important to update my operating system?

Using the most up-to-date operating system ensures your device is running as smoothly and securely as possible.

When you say “Clark-managed” vs “personal,” what do you mean?

A Clark-managed device is a computer assigned to you by ITS or by your department (or a public computer located in a lab or library space). In other words, it is a computer the university owns. These have an asset tag on them (pictured below). A personal device is typically one you bought with your own money and brought to campus to use for class or work—a computer you own.

Does Windows 11 affect the Office apps on my PC?

Nope! The operating system Windows 11 is separate from whichever version of Office you’re using, so updating it won’t affect Outlook, Word, Excel, etc. You can check with version of Office you’re using by clicking the Account option on the Home page of a Microsoft app such as Word.

What if I need help?

Please contact the ITS Help Desk at 508-793-7745 or helpdesk@clarku.edu

February 2025, Get to Know Us

Get to Know Us: Joanne Dolan

This month, say hello to Joanne Dolan, the Director of Academic Technology and Client Support, who has been with Clark for almost 10 years.

Born and bred in Dublin, Ireland, Joanne got wanderlust while studying Computer Science at Trinity College Dublin. Over the following years, she worked as a director of a sports and tech summer camp in Washington DC, a programmer in Gujarat, India, and an English teacher in Nagoya, Japan. On her travels, Joanne acquired a Wisconsinite husband and moved to Green Bay so he could complete his nursing degree. There, she worked at UW-Green Bay and got a master’s degree in education before Clark came knocking.

Hear from Joanne herself below!

How do you explain your job to people at parties? For my previous positions I used to say I taught teachers how to teach online, but I’d never bore people with my current job! The most I say is that I work in IT!

What’s your favorite part of the job? It’s different every hour, every day, every semester, every year. There’s always something new and cool that people are doing on campus that needs some technology or pedagogical support that we get to help with.

What question do you wish more people asked you at work? Would you like to help us with this exciting project?

What are some fun facts about you?

I love cooking and I’m trying to perfect my dumpling game – I have learned to make my own wrappers, and fold different shapes. I even made soup dumplings last month!
I love to travel, and I’m off to Paris and London soon.
I have previously been known as a crazy pug lady because for most of my marriage we had 4 special need pugs – Lexie with only 1 eye, Toad with only 3 legs, Porter with no eyes and Hammond with half a brain. They’ve all shuffled off this mortal coil so we’re down to a normal 1 pug now – a crazy 6-year-old called Ezio.
My party trick is reading tarot cards which despite not actually believing in, I’ve been told I’m quite good at.
I once got my arm stuck in a vending machine