James Skon

Name: James Skon
Title: Professor of Computer Science, Computer Science Department Chair
Company: Mount Vernon Nazarene College
Contact Info: skon@mvnc.edu
http://www.mvnc.edu

How I arrived at my present job (academic and other influences): I teach at the college I received my undergraduate degree from. My instructors and classmates had a profound impact on me during my undergraduate years. I am now trying my best to give back to something I believe in (e.g. a quality, Christ-centered, undergraduate education). I also do research and and development in the area of wireless networking. I become involved with this through a good friend who was my gradute assistant supervisor, whi now owns a small netorking R&D firm.

How I organize my day: I do what must be done that day, then, if time permits I move on to what must be done that week, etc. My palm computer is indispensable in getting me to meetings!

Amount of time spent working daily (at home and office): 8-10 hours

What I do to get myself thinking creatively: Hike or ride my bike.

My problem-solving strategy: Divide and conquer at the high levels, successive refinememt at the low levels

What I do to relieve stress: Play with my children, hike or ride my bike.

My hero, mentor, or person I most admire and why: My wife is my mentor. She is the best teacher I know, and she nevers fails to see the real, deeper issues.

What I do to mentor those who work for me: I try to find out what they really think or believe, rather then assume their beliefs and motiviations. I also try to spend time each week with them.

How a negative event changed my life in a positive way: My son's chronic and sometimes life threating health problems. This has helped to soften a sometimes too hard heart, and helped me to love more deeply.

One event or decision in my life I wish I could go back and change: A time when I deeply hurt another person by what I said.

What values are the most important to me and what I value in others: Compassion, trust in others, and simple faith.

What inspires, motivates, or gets me excited about my job on a daily basis: The opportunity to work with students who are "coming alive" intellectially. Also, the opportunity to work with my colleagues to creatively solve unsolved problems..

Biography:

II. Educational History

A. Ph.D. The Ohio State University 1997 Computer and Information Science:
Specialization's:
Artificial Intelligence
Linguistics
Database Theory

B. M.S. The Ohio State University 1982 Computer and Information Science

C. University of North Dakota 1984-1989 Linguistics

D. B.A. Mt. Vernon Nazarene College 1980 Computer Science

III. Professional Experiences

A. Current Assignments
1. Computer Science Department Chair, Professor in Computer Science, Mount Vernon Nazarene College, 1998 to present.

B. Prior Assignments
1. Associate Professor in Computer Science, Mount Vernon Nazarene College, 1995 to 1999.
2. Assistant Professor in Computer Science, Mount Vernon Nazarene College, 1985 to 1995.
3. Cognitive Science Summer Research Fellowship, The Ohio State University, June to September, 1993.
4. Graduate Research Associate, The Ohio State University, Academic Computing Services, July 1992 to present.
5. Cognitive Science Summer Research Fellowship, The Ohio State University, June to September, 1992.
6. Instructor of Computer Science, Mount Vernon Nazarene College, 1983 to 1985.
7. Part-time Instructor of Computer Science, Mount Vernon Nazarene College, 1982 to 1983.
8. System Programmer II, The Ohio State University, The Instructional and Research Computing Center, 1982 to 1983.
9. Graduate Research Associate, The Ohio State University, The Instructional and Research Computing Center, 1981 to
1982.
10. Graduate Assistant, The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science, 1980.
11. Partner/Owner, Digitcomp Systems, contract software firm, 1978 to 1980.

IV. Teaching Assignment
A.Classes Taught at MVNC (list limited to those in current curriculum):
1. CSC-111G Introduction to Microcomputer Spreadsheets
2. CSC-121G Introduction to Microcomputer Database Systems
3. CSC/MTH-153 Elementary Discrete Mathematics
4. CSC-124 Computer Science I
5. CSC-134 Computer Science II
6. CSC-224 Introduction to Assembly Language Programming
7. CSC-234 Introduction to File Processing
8. CSC-242 FORTRAN
9. CSC-252 COBOL
10. CSC-303 Computer Application Practicum
11. CSC-313 Computer Architecture and Organization
12. CSC-323 Software Engineering
13. CSC-333 Database Management Systems
14. MTH-323 Advanced Discrete Mathematics
15. CSC-413 Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis
16. CSC-423 Programming Languages, Theory and Organization
17. CSC-443 Advanced Topics in Computer Science - Natural Language Processing
18. CSC-443 Advanced Topics in Computer Science - Computer Networks
19. CSC-442 Advanced Topics in Computer Science - Object Oriented Programming
20. CSC-521-4 Internship in Computer Science
21. ITD-384 Seminar in International Development.

V. Research and Scholarly Activities
A. Areas of Specialization/Interest
1. Wireless Networks
2. Artificial Intelligence
3. Computational Linguistics
4. Linguistics
5. Database Theory/ Information Retrieval

B. Research
1. Development of efficient networking protocols for wireless computing. I am currently working on the development of a new
protocol, called CellWave, for more efficiently networking using wireless technology. Ongoing.

2. Parallelization of encryption algorithms. During summer 1998 John Noonan and I investigated the possibility of using Intel's
MMX instructions to boost the performance of the Twofish encryption algorithm.

3. Internet based software Licensing and distribution. Summer 1998 designed a web-based system for multi-tiered licensed
software tracking and distribution. This system was implemented by two students, and is now is commercial use.

4. 1990-1997 Investigated the use of linguistic and pragmatic knowledge to efficiently guide syntactic and semantic parsing.
The research focused specifically on techniques for guiding an HPSG (Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar) based parser
using highly specific contextual knowedge in the form of systemic grammars. The novel aspect of this research is the efficiency
with which the pragmatic knowledge can be brought to bear. The efficiency is possible due to a high level of compilation of
pragmatic knowledge, and the high specificity of knowledge is possible due to a rich theory of pragmatics under development
by OSU linguistics faculty member Mike Geis. This research has been partially funded by an OSU interdepartmental research
fellowship provided by the The Ohio State Center for Cognitive Science, The Ohio State Department of Computer and
Information Science, The Ohio State Department of Linguistics during the summers of 1993 and 1994.

5. Led a research/development effort for the OSU/ACS Internet FAX project. This project uses existing university internet
connections to permit the passing of documents among big ten university libraries. It also permits Email to be routed through
the internet to FAX machines. Periodic involvement in the project continues. June 1992- June 1993.

6. In conjunction with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (and Wycliffe Bible translators) developed a syntactic parser
(left-corner chart-parser) which has been integrated into the SIL toolkit for Computer Added Dialect Adaptation (CADA).
This toolkit is currently in use by linguists world wide to assist the translation of Bible texts between similar dialects. 1990.

C. Papers/Presentations

1. Skon, James; James T. Streib; Brenda Tuomi Litka; Curt M. White; Implementing Internship Programs In The Small
College Environment, Panel Session at the 1998 Midwest conference of the Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges,
September 26, 1998.

2. Skon, James and John Noonan; Parallelization of the Twofish Symmetric Key Encryption Algorithm. Presentation at the
Summer Mini-grant Symposium, October 12, 1998.

3. Skon, James; Why computers can't speak English. Presentation for the Natural Science Division Colloquium. Fall 1997.

4. Skon, J, (1994, December) The Internet at MVNC: Part One - EMAIL: Personal Communication Over The Internet.
Lakeholm Viewer, December 6, 1994.

5. Skon, J. (1994, Feburary) HPSG parse guidance using Socio-Pragmatic Expectations, Research presentation for the
Cognitive Science Brownbag Series, The Ohio State University.

6. Skon, J. (1994, January) HPSG Parse Guidance Using Socio-Pragmatic Expectations, Research Report written for
fellowship work funded by the Cognitive Science Brownbag Series, The Ohio State University.

7. Skon, J. (1993, June). Guiding an HPSG Parser Using Semantic and Pragmatic Expectations, 1993 Proceedings of the
Association for Computational Linguistics.

8. Skon, J. (1993, June). Pragmatically Directed Parsing: Using Compiled Knowledge about Social Actions to Guide an
HPSG Based Parser, Research presentation for The Ohio State University Artificial Intelligence Research Group.

9. Skon, J. (1992, November) Integrating Socio-Pragmatic Knowledge With HPSG: A Computational Study, Research
presentation for the Cognitive Science Brownbag Series, The Ohio State University.

10. Skon, J (1989, July). Computing In Central America: A Real World Experience For Students. Presented to the
Nazarenes in Higher Education convention computer science grouping at Olivet Nazarene University.

11. Skon, J; Maxson, Phillip (1988). An Academic Computing Strategy for Connectivity, Heterogeneity, and Staged
Upgrade. Paper was written to give long and short range goals for academic computing in the Math/Computer Science
Department.

12. Skon, J (1988, November). A History of Academic Computing at Mount Vernon Nazarene College. Paper written for
Ad Hoc committee on Academic Computing to give perspective for future planning.

13. Skon, J, et al (1988). A Philosophy and Organizational Plan of Academic Computer Services at MVNC. Paper written
for Ad Hoc committee on Academic Computing to give campus direction and guidance in academic computer services
strategy.

14. Skon, J,; Maxson, Phillip (1988). The Ideal Computing Environment at MVNC. Paper written for for Ad Hoc committee
on Academic Computing as starting point for future philosophy and strategy planning.

15. Skon, J. (1988, April). A Multi-user AP-NEWS System for Use in the Journalism and Communications Curriculum.
Paper presented to the 21st Small College Computing Symposium at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa.

16. Skon, J. (1985, April). The Use and Control of Dial-up Information Systems When Used as a Class Resource. Paper
presented to the 18th Small College Computing Symposium at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.

D. Seminars/Workshops
1. Attended the Project Kaleidoscope Workshop "Academic Leadership in a Time of Change: The Role of the Departmental
and Divisional Chair" at the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC., January 30 - February 1, 1998.

2. Participated in Undergraduate Faculty Workshop on The Social and Ethical Implications of Computing. June. 19 - 23,
1995. The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Funded by National Science Foundation.

3. Participated in Undergraduate Faculty Workshop in Software Engineering. Aug. 13 - 17, 1990. Georgia State University,
CS Department. Funded by National Science Foundation.

VI. Service Activities

A. Service to the Institution
1. Division/Department Service
a. Chairman, Department of Computer Science, 1998 to present
b. Negotiated 4 new Pentium computer systems for CS lab as part of Wireless Networking project research agreement.
1998-1999.
c. Program Coordinator, Department of Computer Science, 1995-1998
d. Computer Science Internship director, 1985 to present
e. Wrote and designed a department Brochure titled "Preparing for a career in Computer Science at MVNC", Summer,
1991. Updated Fall 1998.
f. Director of the Computer Science Laboratory, 1997 to present.
g. Developed new curriculum recommendations for Computer Science Major, 1998.
h. Organized divisional assistant appreciation dinner held December 7, 1993.
i. Wrote paper "Proposal - An Academic Computing Strategy for Connectivity, Heterogeneity, facilities. 1988-1989
j. Secretary, Math / Computer Science Department , 1983 to 1988
k. Member, Ad Hoc committee on Summer Science Training Program, 1986

2. College Service
a. Chair, the MIS program study committee, 1998
b. Technology Advisory Council (TAC). 1997 to present.
c. Nominating Committee (division representative). 1996 to present.
d. Distance Learning Subcommittee (TAC) 1998 to present.
e. Networking subcommittee (TAC) 1998 to present.
f. Presenter, Faculty Internet Workshop, December 12, 1994.
g. Academic Computer Support Advisory Committee - 1992-present
h. Advisor, Mandate, the student missions club, 1986 to present.
i. Telecommunications Committee - 1989 to 1991.
j. Faculty Development Committee - 1989 - 1990
k. Member, Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Computing, 1988 to present.
l. Library Committee, Assisted committee in evaluation, specification, and selection of computerized circulation system. 1988
to 1990.
m. Informal advisor for campus jail ministry (associated with the Reachout organization). 1988 - 1992
n. Member Ad Hoc Committee writing a Title III proposal for Academic Computing and the Library. 1988 - 1989
o. Led a faculty workshop on computer database systems at Mount Vernon Nazarene College, May 1988.
p. Member, NCR Scholar selection committee, 1986.
q. Advisor, Living Witness, student evangelistic club, 1985 to 1986.

B. Professional Service
1. Professional Organizations
a. Workshop Chair, Midwest Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges. Attended the fall planning meeting of the steering
committee of the Midwest Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges at Franklin College in Franklin Indiana, October 30,
1998.
b. Member of ACM special awards subcommittee. Will serve as chair in 2000. Served as Special Awards Judge for the
ACM as the 1998 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Ft. Worth, Tx. The ISEF in the international final
competition worldwide for high school science fairs. I served as a representation from the ACM, selecting three computer
science related projects for special awards and recognition from the ACM.
c. ACM - Association of Computing Machinery.
d. CCSC - Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges. Co-Chair of the Papers and Tutorials committee and member of the
steering committee for the Mid-West CCSC..
e. AAAI - Ammerican Association for Artificial Intelligence.
f. Member of the Association of Computational Linguistics student program committee for the 1993 International Association
for Computational Linguistics Conference.
2. Work in Computer Assisted Bible Translation:
a. Developed parser for integration into SIL CADA toolkit (see research heading above). 1990.
3. Special Recognition
a. The Sears-Roebuck Foundation Teaching Excellence and Campus Leadership Award. 1991
b. Outstanding Young Men of America, 1985 and 1986.

4. Consultantships
a. Work with KarNet Inc. on wireless networking protocols. 1997-present.

b. Consultant for the Parish - O'Neill Corp. of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. 1992-1993.

c. Prepared report for the "Autonomous Media Society CO-OP" of Mount Vernon, titled: The Account Dollar (A$) CO-OP:
Proposed Accounting System Design. June 1991.

d. Worked as consultant for Divilbiss Corp. in their search for a new Computer Department head. 1989.

e. Worked in conjunction with Olivet Nazarene College and Dr. Henry Smith to develop a micro-computer based radio music
and program log generator. 1988

f. Consultant for the Nazarene Asia Pacific Regional Office and the Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, Philippines.
Spent June-August in Manila in 1986 to serve as a Nazarene in Volunteer Service (NIVS). Assisted in computerization and
computer training of both office staffs.

g. Lead Design Consultant, The Ohio State University, on the Tominy Database Conversion Project. Purpose: to convert a
IBM based database interpreter for use under VAX/VMS. 1982.

C. Community Service
1. Member of the Knox County Focus2100 technology subcommittee of the board of education. 1998.
2. Developed and judged programming Contest for BLAST. 1994 to present.
3. Developed (in conjunction with several of my courses) a networked database system for storing food pantry and client
information for Common Ground Ministries in Cincinnati, Ohio. 1994 to present/
4. Spoke for the Knox County Chamber of Commerce in February, 1998.
5. Volunteer for East Elementary School.
6. Knox County Technologies Board, member. This is a board sanctioned by the Know County Commission to facilitate the
development and operation of information services throughout Knox County. 1994-1996.
7. Knox County Jail Ministry. Involved in providing Sunday evening services to inmates on the felon floor. Also involved in
organizing a campus jail ministry associated with the Reachout organization. 1988 - 1993.
8. Cub Master. Scout Pack 330, Mount Vernon Ohio. 1992 - 1994.
9. Interchurch Social Services volunteer and consultant. Worked with unemployed men in Job Club, currently assisting in the
computerization of Interchurch operations. Taught a word-processing course to staff during summer of 1988.
10. Co-editor, Knox County Right to Life Newsletter. 1986-1989.
11. Twice served as guest speaker for the Knox County High School Computer Fair. 1985 and 1986
12. Guest lectured for the honors program at the Sparta Junior High School on artificial intelligence. 1986

VII. Professional Practice Activities

A. Clinical Practice
1. Instruction on the C programming language, Divilbiss Corp,
Fredricktown, Ohio. Assisted in teaching their programming staff
how to program in C. 1987.

B. Administrative Practice
1. Assistant to the Academic Computer Center Director. A one-third
time appointment at MVNC to assist the director in management
and maintenance of the Academic Computer Center. 1983 to 1984.

VIII. Post-Master's Study

A. University of North Dakota - 32 graduate semester hours in Linguistics.

B. Ohio State University - Ph.D. in Computer Science from The Ohio State University. 1997.

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