Georgia Grant

Biography

I began my career in education as a teacher of Mathematics and Science in Middle School in Massachusetts. After I moved to California in 1973, I took some programming and electronics classes at the College of San Mateo and became a software engineer programming avionics systems for a defense contractor. At that time, Assembly language was the language of choice for embedded systems. As part of my responsibilities as a programmer, I learned to administer users and software on several different models of VAX computers. I am very proud of having been the first woman with the title of 'Engineer' at that company.

I also worked for Control Data Corporation, a company that developed and manufactured mainframe and mini-computers. In the early 1980's at CDC, I worked on a project called the Consolidated Communications System. CCS was actually an early version of a network router. That experience was my introduction to early network protocols computer communication.

After the downsizing of the defense industry, I returned to College of San Mateo to learn more about networking computers. In 1995, I began teaching part-time at CSM and in 1997 I became a full-time instructor.

I've also done volunteer work helping the network administrators in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and have participated in Net Day, an effort to bring the Internet to local schools.

I also sing with the Glide Ensemble at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. The Ensemble performs every Sunday and at other events in the San Francisco area.

When I'm not preparing for classes, studying, taking classes, working on my home network, working out or doing Pilates, surfing the Internet, or training Holly you may find me out at the Milagra Ridge section of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area wandering around with Holly and Ivy, our two Scottish Terriers. I am a Site Steward and help the National Park Service and the Parks Conservancy with habitat restoration.

Milagra Ridge is the home for two endangered butterflies ( Mission Blue and the San Bruno Elfin). MIlagra is also home to the threatened Red legged frog and we suspect that there may be some endangered San Francisico garter snakes hiding out.

Another hobby is my two Scottish Terriers, Holly age 3 1/2 and Ivy age 1 1/2. Holly has retired from the show ring and Ivy is still working on becoming a champion.