New Institute of Technology director is right-brain-left-brain leader

The days of the solitary scientist plodding alone in the computer lab are long gone, says Rob Friedman, the new director of the University of Washington Tacoma’s Institute of Technology.

Today, Friedman says, “We need interaction among students, faculty, local industry and the community to generate new ideas, new products and services to enhance the lives of people.”

Friedman plans to emphasize that spirit of collaboration as he takes over as head of the Institute of Technology. He recently replaced retiring director Orlando Baiocchi.

The institute was created in 2001 with private donations, local government dollars and state matching funds to address the growing demand for workers in the high-tech industry. As of autumn 2010, the institute had churned out 470 new technology professionals with undergraduate degrees and more than 100 with master’s degrees.

Friedman comes to Tacoma from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, where he served as an administrator and teacher since 1993. In his most recent position, Friedman served simultaneously as chairman of the humanities department and director of the science, technology and society program, while holding a joint appointment with the College of Computing Sciences.

Merging humanities and technology

The dual role allowed Friedman to combine his interests and strengths in what some might consider divergent disciplines. It also made him a good match for UW Tacoma, an institution that thrives on its interdisciplinary approach to studies.

“I’m looking forward to working with the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences program, the business school, even the nursing program,” he said.  “There’s so much information technology can do for nursing.

“Information rules at this point. But we’re inundated by it. We need to find better ways to store it, filter it, aggregate it, get access to it. We’ve made tremendous advances, but now there’s too much.”

Friedman began his academic preparation in the humanities, earning a bachelor’s degree in English and financial journalism, a master of fine arts in fiction and a doctorate in American literature.

Eventually, he took an interest in information technology through projects with computer science professors. In one effort, he joined with computer scientists to teach writing and computer programming to high school students in Newark.

Writers can do math

They tried to dismantle the belief that people who write well can’t do math, and people who do math well can't write. Students got the message.

“Those that were averse to computer programming realized there was beauty in the art of composing a program in C++ [a computer language], just as there is in composing a piece of writing.”

He began studying computer science himself, and represented NJIT in a consortium of technical universities around the country developing undergraduate degree programs in information technology.

In 2000, Friedman helped launch NJIT's information technology degree. Two years later, he earned a master of information science there. NJIT's information technology program has been steadily growing since its inception. The chance to help another program flourish attracted Friedman to UW Tacoma.

Moving west

Friedman said 130-year-old NJIT is a “wonderful, well established” institution in Newark, one of the nation's oldest cities. In contrast, 21-year-old UW Tacoma offers, “a lot of vibrancy that can't be replicated in an old, industrial town.”

Living in the South Sound will be an adventure for Friedman. Up until now, the Bronx native spent his entire life in the New York City metropolitan area.

Recently, he and his wife, Lorie, and their two dogs, Wrigley and Lola, settled in Gig Harbor. Their 19-year-old son Jack is away at college.

“Professionally, it was the right move at the right time,” Friedman said. “The position offers an interesting challenge.“

The job ahead

Listening tops Friedman’s to-do list.

He wants to hear faculty members' ideas, and plans to meet individually with the institute's 17 advisors from private industry, the government and community.

“I see my job in the early stages as being the glue between the advisory board — which has desires and goals — and the faculty,” he said.

Seeking funding will be one of his key goals. He intends to step up the institute's pursuit of government research funding, especially from the National Science Foundation, and the departments of Defense and Energy.

The National Science Foundation, he noted, constantly seeks proposals that partner universities with local groups to develop products and systems that enhance and stimulate growth in the community. In addition, research-based grants give students a chance to earn significant stipends and tuition assistance while getting hands-on experience.

“I’ll be working with faculty to gin up as many proposals as we can,” Friedman said.

In addition to his administrative duties, stakeholder meetings, and the hunt for resources, Friedman plans to teach at least one class a year.

It promises to be an action-packed year for both Friedman and the institute.