Shakespeare meets Microsoft in Alexander Clark

While many Yalies are renowned as great leaders and innovators, perhaps no son or daughter of Eli has had as extensive and prodigious a presence as Pierson freshman Alexander Clark. A developer with software giant Microsoft since age 14, Clark's work has impacted millions of computer users.

ERIN I. LEWIS/YH Alexander Clark, PC '04, brings his Microsoft Windows development experience to Yale.

At Microsoft, Clark has been a part of the programming team responsible for Internet Explorer 4 and three versions of Windows. Currently, Clark is at work on Office 10.

How did Clark get a job with one of the world's most respected companies even before he could get a driver's license? Clark began to experiment with computer programming as a fifth grade student in his hometown of Jackson, Miss. Without books or teaching, he "just figured out" computer codes. By junior high, Clark had taken his self-education to the Internet, where he participated in news groups on computer development. "I would point out [coding] problems to developers," Clark said. "And as it turned out, Microsoft was monitoring the forums."

Impressed with Clark's talent, Microsoft hired him to author new code for the then-upcoming Windows 98 software. With Internet capabilities expanding, Clark did not have to leave home to do his job. Neither of his parents had experience in the field of computers (Clark's father is a lawyer, his mother does children's theater), but both supported his online commute.

Throughout high school, Clark communicated with Microsoft electronically, and he received weekly code updates on compact discs via Federal Express. "Everything was done remotely," Clark said. In return for his contributions, Microsoft paid Clark in stock options—not bad when one takes a look at a chart of the company's market value since 1995.

Surely, Clark could have jumped from high school to a full-time programming position, but instead, he chose to attend college. He opted for Yale over schools like MIT because he values a liberal arts experience. In fact, some may be surprised to learn that Clark has no intention of majoring in computer science. "I'm kind of into English," Clark revealed. "I'm an avid Shakespeare fan." As disparate as computer programming and English may seem, Clark says he sees them both simply as languages.

With his Microsoft duties only consuming a few hours per week, Clark has had time to pursue English along with many other outlets at Yale. His other activities include the community website YaleStation.org—which he created and maintains—the Yale Ski Team, and the Yale Entrepreneurial Society (Y.E.S.). Y.E.S., in particular, is a good fit for Clark. He hopes to enter the technology sector after graduating from Yale, likely in a business role. "I could kind of see myself going for the Bill Gates form," Clark said. "The ones who become successful are more business-inclined."

Clark may soon mirror the success of Gates, but he will certainly not mirror Gates' reclusive personality. Indeed, Clark defies the stereotypical image of a "computer nerd"—he is surprisingly laid back and tends to take things as they come. When students call him "Microsoft Guy" or approach him at parties as Gates' son, he just laughs and shrugs it off. He does not pressure himself to make breakthroughs, but rather lets his ideas flow freely. YaleStation.org, for instance, was conceived of and launched within a span of two weeks. "I think of something, and then it's around by the next month," Clark said casually.

Clark is also open to sharing his computer savvy with students. When the Romeo and Juliet virus attacked the Yale network, Clark had over 100 calls for help, and he answered many of them with personal visits. He lost quite a bit of sleep, but he says that he was glad that he could do his part to restore health to campus computers. Ironically enough, however, Clark does not intend to become an official computing assistant at Yale. "I have a problem when people try to pay me [for helping them]," he said.

With the unveiling of Yale-StationTV in the near future, stu-dents will soon find themselves benefiting from even more of Clark's handiwork. An extension of YaleStation.org , YaleStationTV will replace the stagnant blue screen of Yale Vision with information on weather and movies, campus calendars, and more.

Despite such an undertaking, Clark plans to continue his work with developers at Microsoft. At its current pace, he starts a new programming project about every two months.

But gifted as he is, there are some aspects of programming where Clark is as helpless as the next Yalie. The most salient example is the Yale database that maintains itemized bursar bills. "I have a very large Durfee's bill," Clark conceded. "My parents see a lot of `Late Night Snack' charges." Clark's solution to this troublesome glitch? "I'm starting to pay in cash."

Apparently there are some learning curves that all Yalies hold in common.

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