Photo by Martin England,
CIS

Bill Baber is not your typical technology buff. He began his career by enlisting in the US Navy after high school, serving in Vietnam, and traveling the world. He studied photography and filmmaking at Southern Illinois University, where he met his wife of 37 years, Kristine. "We share an awful lot of values, which gives us a lot of strength," Bill says. "But we've also encouraged each other to take chances." And Bill certainly didn't limit himself on where he could go next. From photography, he transitioned into designing sailboats in his home state of Florida. From there, Bill segued into creating computer programs that predicted boat velocity. The next natural step was, of course, earning a Masters in Computing and Information Systems from Boston University, and coming to UNH as Senior Information Technology Manager.

These days, Bill spends his time working diligently with the University information systems. He cites skills needed for his job as "good interpersonal skills, patience, listening ability…and it helps to have a little knowledge of technology, too." On a daily basis, you might find Bill managing database teams, doing project-related work and research, or working on the Blackboard Portal project.

The Blackboard Portal utilizes the University Blackboard system to create "an electronic relationship space that is tailored to the user's needs," Bill says. "The user defines the space and prioritizes it. It's a collaborative experience between the system and the user, acting as a 'wrapper' around the information relevant to this user provided by the institution." Currently, over 200 campus organizations-many of them student clubs or groups-have Blackboard counterparts. In the fall, the "single sign-on" Blackboard capability will expand to allow users to access UNH email. Currently, one-click access is provided to Webcat (used for registration, bill-pay, and checking grades), and Blackboard. "To be able to have a true electronic community where people can literally come together to gather and share information is a small, powerful step," Bill says.

When he's not busy merging technologies or aiding students, Bill likes to get outside. He enjoys spending time by the Maine coast and taking early morning walks with wife Kristine in Dover, where they live. "It's great to live in a residential area, to be close to a lot of the natural things we love so much in New Hampshire, and still be able to get into a real community," Bill says. The couple has no children, but do have a "crazy black cat." The passion for photography that Bill found early in life remains with him. "I just find things visually interesting," he says. "Photography is a nice way to stop and focus your mind on this one sensory area."

Whether it's clicking the camera or clicking the mouse, Bill Baber's interests keep him busy, bustling, and certainly content.

Thanks to Martin England for his permission to reference the "CIS Sketches" article on Bill Baber, © 2004