Bio
In 1971, the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program began as a dream of Professors George Codding and Frank Barnes. They had a dream and a plan, but no students for the program...that's where Sharon Black came in. When Professor Codding recruited Ms. Black, the term "telecommunications", as we use it today, did not exist. Her initial response was, "Tele-what?" But Ms. Black soon learned the wide range of opportunities awaiting her in this budding industry.
Throughout her 35 years in the telecom industry Ms. Black has had experience in multiple facets of the business. Her education with ITP paved the way to a position with the U.S. Department of Commerce consulting with the U.S. Congress, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the State Department. Ms. Black also had the opportunity to help deploy our nation's first Automated Teller Machine network with Norwest Banks. Throughout her career, she has been appointed to several leadership positions to drive companies closer to the leading edge of technology for voice, data, satellite, microwave, fiber and CATV systems. Partly as a result of her interdisciplinary background, Ms. Black was inspired to return to school to get her law degree. Today Ms. Black runs her own international law firm and teaches International Telecommunications Strategy for ITP.
On ITP, Ms. Black recalls, "In my opinion, it is among the preeminent programs in the U.S. I say that less as an alumna and more because of ITP's extensive 'hands-on' laboratory, technical courses and continued interdisciplinary focus." In September of 2006, Ms. Black presented a history of ITP and how it has affected her life to the Seminar class (TLEN 5600). A video of this talk is available here.
Education
JD Denver, 1995; M.S. Telecommunications, Colorado, 1972.