Teaching the computer language
Local church pastor writes published textbook
BARSTOW • Most people call Carol Ziegler “reverend.” But back in the day, the now Barstow resident was known as a professor of computer science.
Ziegler, pastor of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, is still tapping into her former programming career and has recently published a co-authored college textbook on computer programming called “C Programming for Scientists and Engineers with Applications.”
The introductory level textbook — a 797 page tome — will be used by students of engineering and computer science across the globe and is already in university classrooms in the Philippines, according to Ziegler. Four-year schools in the United States will be able to use the textbook next fall. It is also currently available online from the Barnes and Noble Web site.
This is Ziegler’s fifth textbook, which she has produced in collaboration with former colleague Dr. Rama Reddy of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
She and Reddy began authoring their own books to improve upon existing programming material.
“When you teach you find things you wish they did differently,” said Ziegler.
“I enjoy writing programs because it’s like doing puzzles,” she said. “You have to figure out how to make something work.”
For Ziegler, who has lived in Barstow since 1996 and pastored her church for 20 years, ministry and programming actually have a common thread: symbolism.
Her interest in symbols sparked while Ziegler was a math student. Computer programming, which uses detailed, logical symbols and orders to execute specific commands, was also mathematically based.
“It’s the same, but it’s more a language-like system,” explained Ziegler. “With religion, you’re dealing with symbols also.” However Ziegler finds that religion uses symbolism to inspire people or give insight.
“It’s not as simple or easily defined as (computer science),” she added. For now, Ziegler said she plans to continue writing computer programming textbooks. She and Reddy have already begun discussing their next project, she said.
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(760) 256-4122 or elee@desertdispatch.com
