Edward Parrish has been broadened by education at many levels. He spent four years in the United States Air Force. His alma mater is the University of Virginia. After graduating as an Electrical Engineering major, he took a job in the computer industry. Parrish then went back to school for his doctorate.
Presidential Candidate Parrish's experience does not end with his formal education as a student. He also has worked for many years in the teaching and administrative aspects of learning. Parrish was a member of the faculty of the University of Virginia; he could often be found in the research and computer systems labs. As the head of the EE department between 1978 and 1982, his travails include a close correspondence with faculty and students. From 1983 until 1984, he was the chair of Academic Computing. As such, he developed programs and funded research in cooperation with AT&T as well as the National Science Foundation.
Dr. Parrish is currently the dean of Vanderbilt college. He began as an administrator there in 1987. Since then, he has tried to integrate the faculty as admissions is trying to do with the students. He has hired 5 women, 4 African-Americans, and 1 Hispanic while the student population is 25% women and 15% minority.
While he has been there, Vanderbilt has overcome many problems with enrollment and financial aid, problems similar to those which face WPI. He has worked hard with admissions and the financial aid office to locate scholarships and recruit students.
When asked why he wanted to come to WPI, candidate Parrish jokingly replied, "I love the cold weather." He then went on to explain that he wanted to expand the good reputation that WPI has. He believes that the WPI Plan offers the balance that most colleges, especially technical schools, are now striving for. The National Science Foundation is trying to develop an integrated curriculum with hands on project work; he reminded us that the WPI plan offers all of that and more.
Dr. Parrish stressed that the most important issue of all was communication. The issues that arise on most campuses are those that stem from a lack of communication between the parties involved. As president, Parrish is ready to listen to the feedback of students, faculty and staff in what he calls an "iterative process."
A fellow of the IEEE for over 25 years, Parrish is its chair of nominations. He was a member of its honored computer society in '85 and '92. He is also the author of many of the IEEE's publications in order to "stay in the technical mainstream and not be swept away by the airs of being an administrator."
In his free time, Parrish likes to listens to music and often returns to his major passion, woodworking.