ɐ ɡɹˈædʒuːət ʌv ˈɪθəkə kˈɑːlɪdʒ ɪn ˈɪθəkə, nˈuː jˈɔːɹk, bˈɛk ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ bˈætʃəlɚɹ ʌv sˈaɪəns dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt.
A graduate of Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, Beck received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1978.