In 1999, I was offered my dream job as the first assistant professor (fixed term)
in the new School (now College) of Information Sciences and Technology. I had completed
a phd in Communication and Information Sciences 10 years prior, and had 20 years at the leading edge of tech as well as a great track record of teaching. I had no requirement for research or publication, but I did some anyway. Most of my pubs were in the 90s anyway. I retired in 2017
and moved to Florida, where I teach cybersecurity online.
The SRA club wanted to launch a baloon, camera, and gpt to 100,000feet up. They had it all planned out then the lawyers stepped in.
One of our graduating classes before that years bar crawl. I would
only go to the first bar and even then just had a coke.
I was lent a copy of Turings device that helped
us win WW2. (Enigma) NSA lent it to me for a career fair.
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We went to a few football games. At least until my accident.
Every year since about 2009, some courageous faculty and
staff would volunteer for pie your professor, to raise money for Thon.
Suzi would always bring a blueberry pie, raffle it, then win the raffle by paying $20. Then she would give it to a student specifically
to slather me with it. She chose a very smart and beautiful young lady. The young
lady stood in front of me, conflicted, and said 'but I like you.' I smiled and said
'go for it.' and she did. For days i was getting blueberry out of my hair!
Jerry Phillips was my mentor, PhD adviser, and a very close friend. I would not have done my PhD without his guidance.
One year the graduating class asked me to pose with them.
One of the teams in my classes after a presentation.
25th anniversary of IST
One of my favorite students, and the only one i ever gave a motorcycle ride to.
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Me with current Dean, and good friend, Andrea Tapia.
I was honored at the 25th anniversary of IST.
My good friend, Prof. and former Assoc. Dean Stan Supon.
He was a good guy amoong administrators. Really wanted to help students.
I had a lecture about space weather, CMEs, and their effects on
cyber security
Some views from IST windows.
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I always frustrated the safety people because they did not like
all my posters. I ignored them.
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This was my office in the basement of Thomas Bldg, before IST Bldg was opened.
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During my 2 years in the basement of Thomas, I would
pretend (in my head) that we were in a deep space mining colony.
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I tried to make my classes fun, one reason why they filled so quickly
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Our first dean, Jim Thomas. A good friend, smart guy,
and efficient leader. He later became Dean of the business College.
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This was my office window when we moved into the IST bldg.
I was directly above the highway and I LOVED it. Even put a webcam there.
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I went to every single graduation and parent/family event
up to my retirement. Except for one time when I was in the hospital.
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During my last 10 years, all of my classes were either in IST Bldg or online. In winter this was esp nice, I could put on sneakers and stay inside all day.
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My first office was over Rt 322! I loved it!
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The next few pix are of the Networking Club, holding
one of their yearly LAN parties. I was sponsor and explained to the Dean thatthese kids brought their own computers, servers and network media, all different brands. and
somehow managed to get a multiuser gaming system holding more than one game and
about 50 users per game. Logistics, power, cabeling, etc! All done by the kids for fun!
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These students had to apply networking, hardware, power,
servers, app software.
They carried or drove their computers to the HUB
in one room the server was placed in a lab and managed by the kids
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All of this applied learning - and just for fun!
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Right after IST building was opened, there were jokes about
driving over the bridge. Well, during our first future festival i convinced Dean
Thomas to let me drive my Harley over the bridge, to where it would be displayed
in the atrium. Of course i had to go back and forth a few times.
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This is the cybertorium, kindof like an Internet
connected theater. Holds 150 students. Every 5 students there was a computer
which could be booted to windows or mac. Most profs hated it, but i
used it to the max. I would show many videos, simulations, etc on the big screen.
SOMA, students for the multiple arts, needed a sponsor so that
they could show student videos in the Cybertorium. I became their
sponsor. Later I played guitar at a few of their events.
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A number of times I was faculty marshal for our graduations.
But I went to every one!
They had lots of food-oriented events. This is an ice cream booth.
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Suzi and the Lion
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For almost 15 years I was in charge of the IST programs at the Penn State
Commonwealth campuses. Met many wonderful people there! One time I arranged for a few other IST
folk to play music for an evening beer/coctail party. This was for the annual campus meetings.
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While at one of the conferences, I found the Penn State
exhibit, so I stayed around and chatted with prospective parents.
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While at Pitt and Penn State, and especially after becoming faculty, I
developed and performend many academic talks and presentations. They were only a little different to me than classes.
Whenever a student did their Honors Thesis with me, I would
present them with a copy of this sci-fi novel. I explained that this piece
of science fiction helped unintentionally spur a social phenomena of the 60s.
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Copyright G.M. Santoro, PhD, 2026 |
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