http://women.animation.org/1999/donna_cox.html

My name is Donna Cox and I have worn many hats:

• Professor in the School of Art and Design at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

• Assistant Director for Grid Group and Research Scientist at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), Champaign, IL.

• Director for the Center for Graphic Technologies at the  School of Art and Design.

I've been involved in computer visual media for nearly 2 decades.  I went to school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Pat Hanrahan and I were graduate students at same time. Pat helped and encouraged me to pursue computer graphics.  My graduate degree was a Masters of Fine Arts in Computer Graphic Arts (this is a terminal degree and provided me with the education to teach in major universities).

In the 1980's I began developing software to make art.  Some of the software that I developed was used by scientists for pseudo-coloring remote sensing data.  At that time I had an important personal experience where I knew that I wanted to integrate art and science through the use of computer graphics.  This integration has been my mission ever since. 

I then went to UIUC where I began an affiliation with NCSA and started working on scientific visualization problems. By 1986, I coined the term "Renaissance Teams" to explain how scientists, artists, and computer technologists could work together to solve data visualization problems.  I have extended the work to include research in tele-immersion using networks, virtual reality, and visualization.

Over the years, I feel the women work force has grown, but still a very small percentage of women are professors in computer graphics or computer art in this country -- less than 15%, I would guess.

Being a woman in this industry, I have experienced both set-backs and benefits.  I've learned it's a matter of not quitting when feeling isolated.  It's best to make the most of a situation, regardless of gender. My biggest advantage is my never ending source of energy and persistence.

Discrimination probably does happen, but it is subtle and generally not something I have to deal with face to face.  In the old days, discrimination didn't use to be so subtle, so some things have improved.  The biggest problems have been in dealing with people who do not understand the subtle discrimination that takes place with issues concerning management and power.  By far, the women's movement and discrimination is less prevalent in the United States than in any other country that I have experienced.  Young American men tend to be most open to change; they seem to listen and work well with women.

In the last 2 decades, I would say that I have only experienced 2 serious cases of sexual harassment.  In these cases, I simply worked harder than ever to offset the discriminatory practices.  I didn't take the time to vindicate.  I think this worked out well for me, because there is no sweeter revenge than success!  And success I did have.  Now that I am older and wiser, I would take sexual harassers to court.  The irony is that now, being older and wiser, sexual harassment just doesn't happen to me :-) (knock on wood).

Overall this industry is tough and competitive, whether you're a woman or not.  It would be better if more women were involved so that there could be more of a female connection and support system; I get tired of talking football all day.  Interestingly, now that women are entering public sports more often, it gives men and women something to talk about during those social times at lunch and in-between work.  Female tennis players are worthy as topics of conversation, regardless if you are male or female.

I encourage my female students to go into computer graphics, but I find that the ones who do the best are those that treat the computer like the male students.  Often, female students treat the computer like a creative partner, where male students treat the computer as if it is a game that must be won.  Sometimes success comes down to technological attitude, and those that succeed are the ones that have the best attitude toward the technology.  The best attitude is that the technology is a game; have fun with it, don't get frustrated, play with it, and win.

When asked if this industry is in the market for more women, I say absolutely "Yes"!  Women bring a new life, cooperation, and management style that would be very good for the industry.  I think this is already being recognized by employers.

I've been attending SIGGRAPH since 1984.  I loved SIGGRAPH this year!  I loved to see the historical elements and displays.  I found the pioneering exhibitions, art show, and trading cards most interesting.  I always love Siggraph!  Even when it's bad, it's good.  I am working on creating an upcoming venue for SIGGRAPH, which will involve the latest research in remote virtual collaboration (tele-immersion) and the use of avatars.

Now that my daughter is an adult, I finally have time to get away from work.  I play Tennis, read lots of books on scientific philosophy and Zen,  and I Jog.  During the hardest times of my life, I was raising my daughter, going to graduate school, pioneering efforts in computer art and visualization, getting tenured, and being promoted to full professor.  Wow!  I don't know how I did it when I look back.  I think it all came down to TIME MANAGEMENT, lots of energy and an interior drive that, for lack of better term, I call spiritual.  My goals now are to be the best I can be.  I'd like to write more about what has been done in the field.

For those interested in working in this industry, I advise you be persistent, work hard, keep your eye on the ball, take personal time and reflect on what really matters.  One of my favorite quotes is:

"I believe that we are here to some purpose, that the purpose has something to do with the future, and that it transcends altogether the limits of our present knowledge and understanding."

-- Freeman Dyson, "Infinite in All Directions" (New York: Harper and Row Publishers) p. 294