Georgetown College. Georgetown University.

Dr. Clay Shields (Photo: Roland Dimaya)

What do you regard as your greatest academic success?
I have some papers that I think are pretty cool, but I think my greatest successes have come from students who took my intro class just to meet a requirement and ended up becoming Computer Science majors. There have been several who later told me I changed their lives for the better because I got them interested in computer science or in information security, my area of research.

What is your idea of happiness?
I learned from my time as an infantry officer that happiness begins with being warm and dry and fed. Beyond that, I am happiest when I get to learn new things and am actively engaged in life.

Who or what was the greatest influence in your life that led to your career?
Randy Pausch. He taught my data structures class when I was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, and he sparked my interest that led me to where I am today. You might know him because of the coverage of his recent “Last Lecture” (viewable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo), which was incredibly moving and which shows what a fantastic person and lecturer he is. He is my model for what a professor should be.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I am happy enough where I am that I wouldn’t change a thing for fear I would end up somewhere else. That being said, I often wonder what would have happened if I had done things differently. “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood…”

What do you enjoy about teaching?
It is often said that the best way to learn something is to teach it, and I experience that every time I teach. Since I like learning, I like teaching, even if what I am learning is how to teach better. I also think computers and what we can use them for are fascinating and incredible, so I really enjoy it when I see students make the same realization.

Who are your favorite heroes/heroines in real life (and why)?
I watch the History Channel and Discovery. I often see veterans interviewed who have won the Congressional Medal of Honor and are talking about the circumstances. Almost invariably, they deny being heroes, and say that they were just doing what needed to be done. I most respect those who do what needs to be done and don’t expect fortune, fame, or recognition for it.

Who is your favorite thinker?
Lawrence Lessig. If you are not familiar with him, he is a law professor who has spent quite a bit of time thinking and talking about the freedom of information and the future of copyright and intellectual property, particularly as it changes with the evolution of the Internet. He made his book in this area, “The Future of Ideas” available for free online at http://www.the-future-of-ideas.com/download/. Anyone interested in the evolution of technology should read it.

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
People would be held accountable for their actions.

If you could change one thing at Georgetown, what would it be?
There would be a reliable and automated system for computer backups for faculty and staff. As a computer security person, I find it appalling that we are hired for our intellectual abilities and output, but our work product is not protected by backups.

What is your favorite word?
On a 32-bit machine, 0xBADF00D. (Ok, bad computer geek joke.)

What, if any, is your phobia?
The Internet is down!?

How do you have fun?
By learning new things, both mental and physical. Over the last several years I have learned a lot about computer forensics, about options trading and how financial markets worked, and a variety of useful and geeky computer-related things. Since my wife grew up speaking Czech, I am about to start learning that to share with her and our son, who is due any moment. I also really enjoy learning physical skills. I have whitewater kayaked a lot in the past; I go snowboarding in Utah a couple of weeks a year; I learned to surf over the last couple of years since one of my best friends moved to Hawaii; and I just bought a new road bike to take out and explore the area more when the weather gets nicer.

What is the best piece of advice you could give to your students?
Don’t worry if you end up doing something that seems non-ideal when you graduate. It takes time to realize what it is that you want to do with your life. Taking a job or doing something somewhat sucky can give you good experience about what you don’t like and don’t want to do. There are so many options available to GU grads that learning what you don’t want to do can really help guide you to what you really do want.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
“Keep your head down” keeps cropping up. It has been applicable to situations involving being shot at, rolling a kayak, golfing, and surviving as junior faculty.

What is your motto?
Don’t paint brick. Don’t mess with chimpanzees.

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