In my work with our alumni and donors, I often have the pleasure of meeting very interesting, accomplished individuals who make an impact on my life with their kindness. Mary Chen is one of those people. Determined, caring, and devoted, Mary was an integral staff member in the Faculty of Mathematics for many years. Graduate student alumni fondly remember how they depended on her support during their time here as students. I recently had the opportunity to ask Mary about her experiences during the early days at Waterloo.
Mary – you were an integral staff member in our Faculty for many years. What are some of the things that you remember as unique to Waterloo?
When I first joined Computer Science in the world renowned Faculty of Mathematics in 1972, the Faculty was five years old, UW was only 15! Our Faculty was unique in that it was the first one or two in the world to be founded as a Mathematics Faculty. At the time, before CS became the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, the Faculty consisted of five departments – each with its own world-class reputation. This also helped UW to stand tall among other more established universities.
In the early years, the IBM computers were housed on the second floor of MC. Visitors would come around to admire them. Our CS programs were so well known that, in the 1980s, twice a year, personnel from Microsoft and BNR (Bell Northern Research) would come to campus to interview potential employees before our students even graduated. We would also field phone calls from other companies wanting lists of our graduating students. Bell Labs in the U.S. would pay the Department to retrain their employees here.
There were so many things going on around me that made me feel proud to work at a world-renowned Faculty!
What was the most challenging part of working in the Faculty of Mathematics?
Not too many people realize that because of the co-op system, UW runs three full terms all year-round. Other universities wouldn’t offer courses in the summers so their campuses would be very quiet with few people around. This is not the case at UW as our spring term runs from May until the beginning of August. Then fall term follows in about four weeks. We would have to update the content of most courses offered in CS regularly to keep up with the rapidly changing computer industry. During my time, the staff members were always busy revising lecture notes and we were on the go constantly. Because of this pressure, I knew we were ahead of the trend. It brought us a great deal of pride but also took hard work to maintain it.
Why did you launch the Dr. Derick Wood Graduate Scholarship in Computer Science in honour of your husband?
In one of Derick's letters, he wrote "I have been blessed with some intelligence which has enabled me to hold my present job, so I wish to give back to God, some of what He has given to me." As he was a Professor in CS, naturally it is the right place for the scholarship.
Graduate scholarships are a high priority for our Faculty. Why did you choose a graduate scholarship?
As a Graduate Studies Coordinator in CS and Statistics and Actuarial Science, respectively, I have seen many graduate students with financial difficulties towards the end of their studies. Especially PhD students who can often take four or five years to finish. Some had a family to support, and trying to get financial assistance before their defences could be very difficult at times. Therefore, providing extra support not only encourages them in their excellent work but also alleviates their financial burden.
Philanthropic support is different across cultures. Given that students, faculty, and alumni in the Faculty of Mathematics span the globe, what can we do to highlight the needs and opportunities of the Faculty to ensure its success into our next half-century?
Philanthropy is a foreign concept for many cultures. Cross-cultural education is time consuming and needs effort to help people learn about this idea. But now that people surf the web, it is a bit easier to disseminate ideas and familiarize them with this concept. The best way to promote philanthropy is to have local alumni donors highlight their giving. Though Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are well known for it, their level of philanthropy is out of reach by most people's standards of living. I suggest we don't use them as examples! We want to explain to the public that, in reality, anyone can be a donor and whatever they are giving can fully depend on their own financial situations. So starting with the local alumni donors of each country is a better way and easier way to educate about the culture of philanthropy, I think.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes! I had fun working at CS because of all the new technology we got to use: the newest terminals and computers; e-mail in the late 1970s. Though at the beginning, the baud rate was 300, it was improved to 900, 1200, and then 9600. But it was still super-fast compared to snail mail! I got to learn computer typesetting before desk-top publishing became available, learned how to create a layout on the world-wide-web or w3 —now called the web or internet— in the early 1990s. In the early 1980s, when Prof. John A. Brozozoski (the Chair) initiated the idea of computerizing the Department (the first on campus), I went to him and told him that I supported his idea and was willing to help. Then we changed everything in the Department to e-versions.
Another unexpected “plus” of working at UW, is that many students remembered me with post-cards wherever they travelled. They even sent me Christmas cards and thank-you cards for lending my shoulder to them, and at one event, baked me a cake!
It was fun to see and participate in the growth of the Faculty, though there were stressful times. But now looking back, they have all become a sweet beautiful memory! I am proud that I was a part of it.
