GirlGeek of the Week
January 2001

Patricia Lewis

As a young, single, welfare mother of two small children, Patricia Lewis returned to school with the determination that wanted to better her life and the lives of her children. That determination brought her to information technology. She welcomed the challenges and excitement of computers and saw it as a way to help not only herself, but also other people.

She completed an associate degree in Computer Programming at Norwest Technical College in 1988. After a summer intern position at a software company, Patricia joined Federal service in the fall of 1988 in a support staff position, becoming the network administrator in early 1990.

When did you first discover your love and/or obsession with computers and technology?

While I was fascinated with technology, including computers, since early childhood due to my early exposure to science fiction from my mother, it was in 1972 when it crystalized. My small rural Minnesota school somehow got hold of a dumb terminal with an old handset phone/modem hookup to the University of Minnesota mainframe, and my math teacher introduced us to Oregon Trail. I was blown away, thinking, wow, all the way from St. Paul! COOL!

How do you earn a living?

I am a Windows NT network administrator for a federal government agency.

Do you consider yourself a Geek?

Definitely! I was watching when Star Trek premiered in 1966, when men landed on the moon, was standing in line the day Star Wars came out, and to this day, get a thrill every time my favorite characters, the Lone Gunmen, are in an episode of the X-Files.

What is your favorite Website?

SCIFI.COM — It's a fantastic portal for all things science fiction/fantasy, as well as great original audio adaptations, anime, short films, reviews, etc.

What do you do when you are not working?

My current passions are photography, both in front of and behind the camera; indulging in live-action role-playing from time to time; and continually updating my web page http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/5686/.

What's your motto?

Cherish today — yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?

Julia Dreyfuss

What would be the title of your autobiography?

Blessed

Who is the person you most admire?

Famous: T. E. Lawrence
Not Famous (but equally admirable): My mother

When and where were you the happiest?

Summer of 1974, Minnesota, riding horses all summer with my best friend - feeling our horses under us, and their colts running beside us through the fields.

If you could have one super power what would it be?

The ability to fly.