Geraldine MacDonald
Born
New York City
Alma materBinghamton University
Occupation(s)Businesswoman, technology executive
Known forBuilding AOLnet, the world's largest dial-up network
Senior Vice President, Global Access Networks at America Online

Geraldine MacDonald is an American internet and online services pioneer, best known for building and operating the world's largest dial-up network for America Online supporting over 35 million customers at its peak.[1]

Early life

MacDonald was born in New York City. Her parents were Holocaust survivors who immigrated to the United States during World War II. She attended George Washington High School (Manhattan) and earned a B.A. in psychology from Harpur College. She earned a M.S. in computer science from the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Binghamton University.[2]

Career

MacDonald began her career as a programmer for The Equitable Life Assurance Society. She then returned to Binghamton University and held various positions within the university computing operation, and received promotions to Associate Vice President with responsibility for all academic, research and administrative computing services on campus.

MacDonald was actively involved in the connection of university campuses in New York to each other and to other developing portions of the Internet in the United States. She served on the board of NYSERNet, The New York State Education Research Network, BITNET and CREN, the Corporation for Research and Educational Networking.[3][4]

Awards and honors

Binghamton University 2017 Watson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Commencement Ceremony held at the Events Center, Saturday, May 20, 2017. Geraldine Knoll MacDonald '68, MS '73 received the honorary degree doctor of letters.

MacDonald was named one of the "Top 25 Unsung Heroes of the Net" in 1999 by Inter@ctive Week, a Ziff Davis publication.[5]

In 2002, MacDonald received the ACM Special Interest Group on University and College Computing Services ACM SIGUCCS Hall of Fame Award.[6]

In 2014, MacDonald received the Glenn G. Bartle Distinguished Alumnus Award from Binghamton University for her work in internet technology.[7]

MacDonald was honored with a Doctor of Letters degree by Binghamton University at commencement ceremonies on May 19, 2017.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "AOL Time Warner Inc. Form 10-K for the year ended December 21, 2002, Page 3". Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "Binghamton University Notable Alumni Directory". Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  3. ↑ "CREN Board of Trustees Elections, Section 2.4". NetMonth - An Independent Guide to BITNET. September 1992. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ↑ "2002 SIGUCS Hall of Fame Inductees". Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "25 Top Unsung Heroes on the Net". Inter@ctive Week. 19 April 1999. Archived from the original on 29 August 2000. Retrieved 29 May 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ↑ "Hall of Fame Award Inductees". 2002. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "Alumni Association to present Special Recognition Awards". 8 April 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  8. ↑ "Four Honorary Degrees to be Awarded at Commencement". May 19, 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
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