Sharon Mason

Director School of Information

School of Information

Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences

spmics@rit.edu

Office Location

GOL-2319

Sharon Mason

Director School of Information

School of Information

Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences

Education

BS, Ithaca College; MS, Rochester Institute of Technology; Ph.D., University at Buffalo

Bio

Sharon Mason is a Professor in the School of Information at RIT where she has served on the faculty since 1997. Dr. Mason’s work focuses on the promotion of student and faculty success, particularly minoritized and marginalized populations in STEM. Her research focuses on faculty enactment of growth mindset, problem solving and collaborative learning in the classroom and lab environment.

Dr. Mason has secured over $5 million in external funding as PI or co-PI and has authored more than 25 peer reviewed articles in addition to numerous presentations and invited talks. She is currently the PI for the National Science Foundation S-STEM grant titled, “ENGAgE: College of Computing Scholars, ENhancing Academic Growth-mindset Academic Experiences.” This project uses a multi-pronged growth-mindset approach infused throughout existing curricular and career support structures to increase the number of academically talented, low-income computing students. Previous work on growth mindset in computing education will be extended by broadening the approach beyond a single classroom intervention to a multi-faceted approach that addresses both academic success and career success for students as they prepare for graduation and entry to the workforce.

Previously, Mason was a co-PI for the NSF ADVANCE grant “CONNECT: Increasing the Representation and Advancement of Women Faculty at RIT.” This was an effort across RIT’s nine colleges to increase the representation and advancement of women STEM/SBS faculty. The project aimed to (1) refine and strengthen targeted institutional structures, (2) improve the quality of women faculty’s work life, (3) align institutional, administrative, and informal systems of power and resources to support and sustain progress towards the project goal (4) enhance the working environment and support career advancement for women faculty and (5) establish a sustainable, inclusive, accessible RIT network supporting career goals for all RIT faculty.

Locally, Dr. Mason served as the founding director of RIT’s Women in Computing (WIC). In this role, Mason cultivated programs for the support and retention of women students, faculty and staff in the college and outreach to K-12 women in the community. Regionally, Mason co-chaired the New York Regional Women in Computing Conference prior to serving on the advisory board. Nationally, Mason co-chaired the Academic Alliance Committee as part of the Executive Committee for the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). She also served as a seed fund reviewer for NCWIT and worked with NCWIT researchers to provide a series of recommendations for improving recruitment and retention efforts based on an assessment of GCCIS programs.

Additionally, Dr. Mason served as the PI and co-PI for the Department of Defense (DoD) Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP) awards to RIT. These scholarships enabled students to study and do research in graduate programs in security, forensics and information assurance.

Dr. Mason also served for five years as the GCCIS Faculty Associate for Student Scholarships, Issues and Advising. She was responsible for distributing student scholarship dollars and managing all student issues, including grievances, grade appeals and student-faculty conflict situations.

Mason has presented on numerous panels at the local, regional and national levels, reaching out to female students, parents, teachers and guidance counselors interested in technical careers.

spmics@rit.edu

Personal Links

Curriculum Vitae

Areas of Expertise

Computing Education

Select Scholarship

Published Conference Proceedings

Weeden, Elissa and Sharon P Mason. "An Initial Survey of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Student Use of a Composite Screen Solution Utilizing Web Conferencing Software." Proceedings of the 21st Annual Conference on Information Technology Education. Ed. Deepak Khazanchi and Harvey Siy. Virtual, United States: n.p., 2020. Web.

Mason, Sharon P. "Collaborative Learning in Computing Education: Faculty Perspectives and Practices." Proceedings of the 2020 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research. Ed. Amy Ko and Anthony Robbins. Virtual, New Zealand: n.p., 2020. Web.

Dell, Elizabet, et al. "Career Navigation Initiatives for Women STEM Faculty in Support of Institutional Transformation." Proceedings of the 2017 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. n/a. Columbus, OH: n.p., 2017. Web.

Mason, Sharon P. "Examining Faculty Perceptions and Approaches to Problem Solving, Reflective Learning and Social Learning in a Computing Education Program: An Exploratory Case Study." Proceedings of the 20th Annual SIG Conference on Information Technology Education. Ed. Brian Goda and Stephen Zilora. Tacoma, Washington: n.p., 2019. Web.

Mason, S., et al. "AdvanceRIT Connect Grants: Driving Momentum for Disruptive Change for Women STEM Faculty." Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. . Seattle, WA: n.p., 2015. Web.

Bailey, M., et al. "Institutional Transformation Guided by a Multi-frame Organizational Analysis Approach." Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. . Seattle, WA: n.p., 2015. Web.

Marchetti, C., et al. "Collaboration: The Key to Leading Institutional Transformation." Proceedings of the ACM Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. Ed. . Houston, TX: n.p., 2015. Print.

Marchetti, S. Mason, C., et al. "Institutional Transformation at a Large Private Technical University: Reporting on the Accomplishments of a Combined Data Driven Top Down and Bottom Up Approach." Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE Frontiers in Education. Ed. Unknown. Madrid, Spain: n.p., 2014. Web.

Mason, S., et al. "Transforming an Institution Using Data to Inform Creative Interventions." Proceedings of the 2014 ACM & Anita Borg Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. Ed. . Phoenix, AZ: n.p., 2014. Print.

S., Mason, et al. "Faculty Awards at a Large Private Institution: An Indicator of Evolving University Values?" Proceedings of the 2014 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. Unknown. Indianapolis, IN: n.p., 2014. Web.

Johnson, D., et al. "Designing, Constructing and Implementing a Low-Cost Virtualization Cluster for Education." Proceedings of the 7th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics, and Informatics. Orlando, FL: n.p., 2013. Web.

Hartpence, B., et al. "Natural Selection in Virtualization Environments: A Decade of Lessons from Academia." Proceedings of the 7th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics, and Informatics. Orlando, FL: n.p., 2013. Web.

Marchetti, C, et al. "Perceived Levels of Faculty Value, Influence, and Satisfaction by Gender, Rank, Ethnicity, College, and Department at a Large Private University." Proceedings of the 2012 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. ASEE. San Antonio, TX: ASEE, 2012. Web.

Bailey, M., et al. "Establishing the Foundation for Future Organizational Reform and Transformation at a Large Private University to Expand the Representation of Women Faculty." Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Ed. American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Vancouver, Canada: ASEE, 2011. Print.

National/International Competition Award Winner

Mason, Sharon. William Stackpole. Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program. Washington, DC, MD, 2014.

Bailey, M, et al. National Science Foundation. ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Grant: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers. Rochester, NY, 2012.

Mason, S. (PI) and Stackpole, W. (Co-PI). Department of Defense. Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program. Rochester, NY, 2012.

Invited Keynote/Presentation

Lewis, C, et al. "How You Can Make a Difference: Bootstrapping Efforts Toward Gender Balance, Birds of a Feather Presentation." 2012 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. The Anita Borg Institute. Baltimore, MD. 2-6 Oct. 2012. Conference Presentation.

Goodall, J., et al. "Are We There Yet? 21st Century Juggling of an Academic Career and Family Life, Birds of a Feather Presentation." 2012 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. Anita Borg Institute. Baltimore, MD. 2-6 Oct. 2012. Conference Presentation.

Bailey, M. and Marchetti, C., Mason, S. "Conversing on Diversity of Women Faculty: Women Faculty, Asset or Liability?" American Association of University Women. American Association of University Women. Rochester, NY. 28 Apr. 2012. Address.

Currently Teaching

NSSA-241

Introduction to Routing and Switching

3 Credits

This course provides an introduction to wired network infrastructures, topologies, technologies, and the protocols required for effective end-to-end communication. Basic security concepts for TCP/IP based technologies are introduced. Networking layers 1, 2, and 3 are examined in-depth using the International Standards Organization’s Open Systems Interconnection and TCP/IP models as reference. Course topics focus on the TCP/IP protocol suite, the Ethernet LAN protocol, switching technology, and routed and routing protocols common in TCP/IP networks. The lab assignments mirror the lecture content , providing an experiential learning component for each topic covered.

NSSA-290

Networking Essentials For Developers

3 Credits

This is a course in the basics of network communication for software developers. Topics will include the OSI 7-layer model and its realization in the TCP/IP protocol stack. Students will also learn about naming and name resolution as it is used in the internet, plus the basics of routing and switching. The focus in all of this will be on an analysis of how name resolution, routing and switching operate at the developer's perspective. The specifics of how the socket transport layer appears to the programmer and operates will be a key topic. Finally, an overview of authentication mechanisms and number of examples of the security vulnerabilities of existing communication protocols will be provided to instruct students on the inherent risks of communication via the INTERNET.

SOIS-510

Multidisciplinary Life

3 Credits

A capstone class for students in the applied arts and sciences bachelor of science degree program. Course provides students an opportunity to reflect upon and enhance the many aspects of their individualized educational programs and focus on future goals.