Margaret “Peg” (Kahles) Guyder ’50
Margaret “Peg” (Kahles) Guyder ’50, a dedicated alumna and associate professor emerita of mathematics and computer science who helped build Skidmore’s computer science program and demonstrated a lifetime of generosity and service to the College, died on Dec. 4, 2022. She was 93.
As a student, faculty member, and alumna, Peg displayed continuing dedication to the Skidmore community and, in many ways, exemplified the future of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at Skidmore and beyond.
“Peg was a female computer scientist – a relative rarity now but especially so then,” said Professor of Mathematics Dan Hurwitz. “We were very proud of that. Peg also stood as an important example of the role women could and should play in that growing field.”
Born on April 30, 1929, Peg came to Skidmore as a student in 1946 from New Rochelle, New York, graduating in 1950 with a degree in mathematics. She returned in 1957 as a part-time instructor of mathematics.
She went on to earn a master’s degree in education from University at Albany in 1959 and a master’s degree in mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute five years later. In 1966, she was promoted to assistant professor at Skidmore.
Peg continued her studies and focused on the emerging field of computer science, completing her doctorate in 1972. She was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in computer science from RPI and, at the time, was the only faculty member at Skidmore with formal training in the field.
“Peg had a vision for a robust computer science program at Skidmore,” said Professor of Mathematics Mark Huibregtse. “She was a fierce advocate of doing right for the students and for the future of computer science at Skidmore.”
In 1972, she helped to establish a telephone link between the computers at Skidmore, Union, and Russell Sage colleges that served as the backbone of a popular course. She also served as director of Skidmore’s Computer Applications Center. After retiring in 1984, she continued to work as a research computer scientist for General Electric Research and obtained two patents in computer-aided design.
Peg is survived by her children, Cheryl Brown Lohse and Kenneth Brown; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
In addition to serving Skidmore as a faculty member, Peg remained a loyal alumna. She continued to support Skidmore and served as both a reunion volunteer and class correspondent.