Ian Parberry: Proving that work can be all fun and games

Ian Parberry didn't buy a cherry red sports car. He didn't dye his hair to cover the gray. He didn't buy a vacation home either. Parberry says for his midlife crisis, he learned a new trade and then taught it to others.

"It's sort of a long story, how I got into computer game programming," says Parberry, professor of computer sciences. "I had always been of the philosophy that teaching students basic tenets of programming was enough for college professors to do. I assumed students could learn the rest on the job. I changed my mind."

Parberry discovered that many students who loved playing computer games were kicked out of campus computer labs because what they were doing was deemed less important than the needs of students who used computers for school-related work. He decided to create a niche for these students so they could learn skills needed to turn their hobby of playing and designing computer games into a career.

In 1993, Parberry volunteered to teach an experimental game programming class that turned into a more formal class with its own course code. Because of the success of the experimental class, he created the Laboratory for Recreational Computing and gave students a place to play and design computer games. It was the first program of its kind in the United States and has proven itself successful through the publication of games designed by the students.

"I love working with students because they are intelligent and have an incredible amount of energy," Parberry says. "I like to be around young people who are still learning."

He also enjoys being a professor because of the academic freedom he has and the ability to define his own professional activity.

Parberry says he always intended to become a professor; it just took him three continents to eventually become one at UNT.

"My family lived in England until I was about 10. We then immigrated to Queensland, Australia, where I lived until I was 21," Parberry says.

He received his bachelor's degree in computer science and math from the University of Queensland in 1981 and received his doctoral degree in computer science from the University of Warwick in 1984. After receiving his Ph.D., he taught at Pennsylvania State University. From there, Parberry moved to Texas to teach at UNT.

"I love Texas because it's like Queensland, but there are ranches in Queensland that are almost as big as Texas," Parberry says. "I think people are more laid back here because of the heat. I like that."

BY ALLISON YEAMAN paiswri3@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• Governor reappoints Ray, Pettit, Craft as UNT regents
• Gateway Center to open for Homecoming
• Former Club at College Inn settles in to new home
• Meningitis, flu vaccinations available to UNT community Oct. 18
• Mean Green nickname, eagle mascot longtime traditions
• U.S. breast cancer screening messages not always effective for Mexican-born women
• Faculty Senate kicks off new academic year
• Hispanic Heritage Month continues through Oct. 15
• Helping students make wise alcohol choices
• UNT researchers to study businesses after tragedies
• Hurley hosts retreat for leaders of urban universities
• Professor serves as UNT ambassador to Bolivia

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