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I am a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Lucent Technologies in Naperville, Illinois. I received a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. I am currently working on the computer software architecture for multimedia enabled telecommunication services over Internet Protocol networks. This means that phone calls made over the Internet will let us share live video and computerized data (pictures, music, web pages, etc.) as we talk with our friends and others. We will be able to use the Internet on our mobile cell phones as well as on PCs. The most exciting part of my career is creating new software designs for new telephony services, sharing my ideas with a team of people, and seeing those ideas become real working services on telephone switch computers, used by real people. One service that I played a major role in designing was Automatic Callback. By dialing "*69", you can call the last person who rang your phone, even though you don't know who called, or what their phone number is. I was thrilled to see this service mentioned in a "Cathy" comic strip, and in a song by REM. I was also excited when a paper I wrote, "A Multimedia Services Architecture for Converged Voice and Data Networks" was accepted for publication and presentation at the World Telecommunications Congress/International Switching Symposium 2000, in Birmingham, England. It was fun to travel, and to present my paper to a large audience of experts in my field from all over the world. During my spare time, I even visited old Warwick Castle. I also wrote several papers, which were published in a magazine, "The Bell Laboratories Technical Journal". One paper won an award for "Best Paper ". I invented a computer software idea that I filed with the U.S. patent office. That was exciting, too! One of the toughest barriers to overcome in arriving at my current position has been my own fear that maybe I would not be good enough or that I would fail. For example, I was afraid when I first enrolled in the Computer Science program at the Illinois Institute of Technology. What if it was too hard? I made up my mind that I would try, and that if I failed, then I would try something else. I discovered, however, that I loved designing computer programs and that I was good at it! I helped other students get their programs to work, and it felt good to help them succeed, too. Another tough barrier for me has been dealing with competitive people who criticize my work. I tune out their negative messages. I keep my eyes on my goals, I believe in myself, and I believe in the power of a group of people working together, and treating each other with kindness and respect. The last tough barrier for me is that I may not look like the stereotype of someone who is good in computers! Some of my bosses or co-workers at first assumed that I could not do the things that I can do, their expectations were too low. I did not let their low expectations affect my work, though. I showed them what I could really do, and they came to respect and even to admire my abilities. The key to my success is that I keep focused on doing what I enjoy doing, what I am good at doing, and the opportunities, rewards, and recognition come along sooner or later.
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