Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Technology William Howard Mast (June 9, 1937-) was born in Watauga County, North Carolina, and graduated from Cove Creek High School in 1955. He attended Appalachian State University, receiving a B.S. degree in industrial arts in 1968. The next year, Mast earned his master's degree in industrial-vocational education from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, and, in 1980, was awarded a Ph.D. in industrial education from Texas A&M University. After serving for five years in the United States Navy, Mast was honorably discharged as an electronics technician first class in 1962. In the service, he attended a variety of military schools in electronics and heavy construction equipment. Mast volunteered for reserve duty during the height of the Vietnam conflict, teaching classes in basic seamanship, leadership, radar, and communications. From 1969 through 1975, Mast served as an instructor and assistant professor in the Department of Industrial Education and Technology at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina. After a year of full-time graduate studies, he returned to Western Carolina University as an associate professor. He was instrumental in the work that led to the establishment of a school of science and technology. Mast then held posts at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, and San Jose State University, San Jose, California, before joining the faculty at Appalachian State University in 1981. As an associate professor in the university's Department of Industrial Education and Technology, Mast implemented and was coordinator for the electronic technology program and served as interim chair of the department for several years. He was promoted to the rank of professor in 1986. Dr. Mast's service efforts included membership in the Graduate Faculty, the Council of Chairs, the Dean's Advisory Council, the Physics Student Review Committee, the Department Safety Committee, the Department Personnel Committee, and the Department Building Committee. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Mast was appointed by the state superintendent of public instruction to the North Carolina State T & I Advisory Committee. He also was consultant to the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction for electronic programs and sat on the board of directors for the North Carolina Council of Vocational Teacher Educators. Other educational consulting experiences included the Electronic Industries Association in Washington, District of Columbia, and Burlington Textile Industry in Asheville, North Carolina. In 1982, Dr. Mast presented a proposal to Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey (WAMY) Community Action, Inc. to provide wood burning stoves to needy families in the area. The proposal was accepted, and that winter Mast and his students were able to furnish heat to families who would otherwise have been without it. He also conducted numerous workshops and presentations to electronics and vocational-technical instructors throughout the state and country. In 1985, Dr. Mast's teaching efforts were recognized when he was presented with an appreciation award from the Electronic Industries Association. Mast also represented Appalachian State in 1990-91 at the Northeast University of Technology in China. His professional affiliations included memberships in the American Vocational Association, the North Carolina Vocational Association, the American Industrial Arts Association, the Southeast Electron Microscopy Society, the American Vocational Education Personnel Development Association, the National Electronic Service Dealers Association, and the North Carolina Council of Vocational Teacher Educators. A licensed electrical contractor for the State of North Carolina, Dr. Mast was also professionally certified in industrial electronics, computer electronics, and radio-television. He retired from Appalachian State in May of 1999 and was awarded emeritus status by the Board of Trustees in September of that year. Sources: Appalachian State University files. -Dr. Richard D. Howe
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