April 27, 2021

A Moment in Computer Science History

A Beloiter’s story and others show students that anyone can become a computer scientist.

Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Darrah Chavey. Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Darrah Chavey.
Credit: Dan Lassiter
Faces of computer science pioneers flash across the screen as Professor Darrah Chavey starts each Intro to Object-Oriented Programming class with what he calls a “computer science history moment.”

The five-minute session shows students that despite the computer scientist stereotypes they may know, this field is accessible to all of them.

Chavey shares the stories of people like Lynn Conway, who developed modern techniques to construct complex circuit boards and had to restart her career when she transitioned from male to female. Or Mark Dean, a Black electrical engineer, who holds three of nine patents that all PCs are based on. Or the late Beloiter Clarence “Skip” Ellis’64, a giant in the field of computer science and the first Black Ph.D. recipient in the then-new computer science field.

As a teen, Ellis took a job operating a computer at a manufacturing company, where he discovered his passion for computing. He grew up on the South Side of Chicago and enrolled at Beloit on a scholarship from his church.

The late Clarence Skip Ellis'64 was the first Black Ph.D. recipient in what was then the new fi... The late Clarence “Skip” Ellis’64 was the first Black Ph.D. recipient in what was then the new field of computer science.
Credit: University of Colorado-Boulder
In 1962, when someone donated an IBM computer to Beloit, Ellis and Chemistry Professor Bill Rice set up the machine in the college’s first computer lab. Ellis served as the lab’s student manager and graduated with a double major in physics and mathematics.

After completing his doctorate at the University of Illinois, Ellis went on to a noteworthy career in computer science, working in industry and higher education. He was a pioneer in collaborative technology still widely used in platforms such as Google docs and created user-friendly applications, such as the ability to open a program by clicking on an icon.

As a professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder, Ellis taught introduction to computer science classes and encouraged underrepresented students to consider careers in the field. At Beloit, Chavey carries on that effort, emphasizing through these history moments that the field of computer science needs diverse minds to thrive.


Also In This Issue

  • “Culture Conscious: Briefings on Culture, Cognition, and Behavior” by Lawrence T. White, Professor

    Culture Conscious: Briefings on Culture, Cognition, and Behavior

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  • Ranjan Roy

    Seven Faculty and Staff Receive Emeriti Honors

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  • Members of Beloit’s class of 1887 display their top hats at an unidentified photography studio. One hat, owned by classmate Amos Van Tassel, and shown on our cover, still resides in College Archives. We are grateful to Fred Burwell’86, Archivist Emeritus, for finding this photo and assisting with the following stories.

    Hats Off to Beloit

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  • Jenni Reinke’05 dances in the historic building her dance-theatre company is bringing back to life.

    Bringing Them Out of the Shadows

    more

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