By David L. Lebovitz
Publication Date: 2026-09-29 16:22:00
During his interview for a professorship at NC State, Tom Byrnes looked at what was offered and said “this schedule looks like it’s going to be pretty easy to do.” By this point, Byrnes was retired from a 35-year-long career at IBM and had a few years teaching community college under his belt. He was told, “We’re going to work you pretty hard.”
A decade and a half after that interview, Byrnes – professor of practice in marketing – says “I think I’m working harder here at NC State than I ever worked at IBM.” That, however, should not be read as a complaint of any kind. “I’m loving it. I wouldn’t continue if I didn’t think it was something that I enjoyed doing.”
Education and IBM
Byrnes is from Yonkers, New York. He attended Pace University as an undergrad, commuting to their Westchester County location. While at Pace, he got a part-time job in IBM’s telecommunications room. The company helped pay for his education, both his…
