Abstract
“A Computer Scientist Reflects on Life in Weatherford Hall”
December 12, 2014
Location: Valley Library, Oregon State University. Watch Video | Download Transcript (PDF)
In the interview, Sundermeier makes note of his upbringing in Forest Grove and his decision to attend OSU. From there, he provides a detailed description of his three years living in Weatherford Hall, a time period during which the building suffered from decades of deferred maintenance and found itself in mounting disrepair. In recalling his living experience, Sundermeier makes note of the renovations that he and his roommate carried out themselves to make their room more liveable, discusses social life in the dorm, and reflects broadly on the shabby charm of the building during his undergraduate years.
Sundermeier likewise shares his memories of campus culture during the early 1980s, touches upon classes and professors who were particularly noteworthy, and describes the computing infrastructure then available to Computer Science students at OSU.
The remainder of the session is primarily devoted to Sundemeier's professional activities. In looking back on his career, Sundermeier outlines his work at Northwest Instrument Systems, his co-founding of Quality Check Software, and his two decades as a manager and executive at FLIR Systems. The interview concludes with notes on family and advice that Sundermeier would give to students of today.