Margaret Taber Oral History
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Dublin Core
Title
Margaret Taber Oral History
Description
Margaret Taber is an electrical and electronics engineering educator whose career nearly parallels the development of electronic, or computer, technology. She graduated from Cleveland State University in 1958 with two bachelor degrees, one in electrical engineering, and the other in engineering science, with an emphasis on math. During college and for a few years after, Taber worked in industry at the Tocco Division of The Ohio Crankshaft Company as an engineering trainee and Development Engineer. After obtaining her Master's of Science in Engineering from the University of Akron in 1967, Taber worked briefly as a digital systems consultant for Design and Development Inc.
It was during this time that Taber also began working in academia as an instructor in Electrical-Electronic Engineering at Cuyahoga Community College. She went on to become an assistant, associate, and full professor as well as Chairperson of Engineering Technologies at the college. In 1976, Taber received an Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and in 1979 she became both an Associate Professor at Purdue University and an Educational Consultant and Writer for the Cleveland Institute of Electronics. Taber was the only woman faculty member of the University's Department of Electrical Engineering Technology, but quickly received tenure as an associate professor, was made full professor (1983-2000), and became a Professor Emeritus in 2000. She has designed, developed, and taught many fundamental and advanced microprocessor courses. She has also written several books/manuals and articles on computer programming.
Taber has been extremely supportive of women in engineering, establishing awards at Purdue given annually to the best women students in Electrical Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology. She has had computer labs named in her honor and received many distinctions, including outstanding alumni awards and SWE's 1987 Distinguished Engineering Educator Award. A licensed professional engineer and certified engineering technologist, Taber is a Fellow Life Member of SWE; a Life Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; and member of the American Society for Engineering Education and the American Technical Education Association.
It was during this time that Taber also began working in academia as an instructor in Electrical-Electronic Engineering at Cuyahoga Community College. She went on to become an assistant, associate, and full professor as well as Chairperson of Engineering Technologies at the college. In 1976, Taber received an Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and in 1979 she became both an Associate Professor at Purdue University and an Educational Consultant and Writer for the Cleveland Institute of Electronics. Taber was the only woman faculty member of the University's Department of Electrical Engineering Technology, but quickly received tenure as an associate professor, was made full professor (1983-2000), and became a Professor Emeritus in 2000. She has designed, developed, and taught many fundamental and advanced microprocessor courses. She has also written several books/manuals and articles on computer programming.
Taber has been extremely supportive of women in engineering, establishing awards at Purdue given annually to the best women students in Electrical Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology. She has had computer labs named in her honor and received many distinctions, including outstanding alumni awards and SWE's 1987 Distinguished Engineering Educator Award. A licensed professional engineer and certified engineering technologist, Taber is a Fellow Life Member of SWE; a Life Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; and member of the American Society for Engineering Education and the American Technical Education Association.
Oral History Item
Interviewer
Lauren Kata
Interviewee
Taber, Margaret
Date Recorded
2003-05-12
Coverage
1930’s-present
Citation
“Margaret Taber Oral History,” Michigan Oral History Database, accessed October 24, 2024, http://www.database.michiganoha.org/items/show/316.