Nathan M. Reiss

I didn't know much about the City College of New York when I began looking for the best university for me. It was very close to where I lived and it wouldn't be expensive for my family. I had an older cousin who had graduated from CCNY, and he had obtained an excellent job. The first place I needed to go was the huge Army Hall where new students received their classes and other information. I suddenly found myself in the ROTC line being fitted with a military uniform. I was now required to attend weekly ROTC military activities like marching, learning about shooting rifles, and keeping our shoes polished. I greatly enjoyed meeting a lot of new friends with similar interests at CCNY. Ever since I was 12, I was interested in electronics and amateur radio. CCNY had an amateur radio station. I had the privilege of being president of the Amateur Radio Club for two years. I had a class in electrical engineering, but I quickly realized that math was not for me. I had been in another class and spoke with a fellow who was in meteorology. I didn't even know what meteorology was, but it sounded interesting. Shortly before graduation, someone who had graduated as a meteorology student during the previous year came to visit our class. He had entered the US Air Force Weather Officer. He talked about the importance of meteorologists in the military. I went in as a Second Lieutenant in meteorology. My work involved providing weather information to pilots. I was in the Air Force for four years and left as a Captain. I realized that I needed some more education. Texas A&M had an excellent meteorology program. I went and received a master of science in meteorology. I wanted to go back to New York and get married. I entered New York University's meteorology program and obtained a PhD. I began looking for jobs and thought that it would be difficult. Much to my surprise, I found a position at Rutgers University! I became an assistant professor and continued teaching for 25 years.