Brenda L. Dietrich facts for kids

Brenda Lynn Jorgensen Dietrich is an American scientist who helps businesses and organizations work better. She is a special professor at Cornell University. She used to be a top leader at IBM, a big technology company. She also led a group called INFORMS, which is for people who study how to make things more efficient.

Her Journey to Operations Research

Brenda Dietrich started her learning at the University of North Carolina. In 1980, she earned a degree in math with very high honors. After that, she went to Cornell University to study math further.

While she was a student, she worked for the United States Department of Energy. This experience made her interested in a field called "operations research." This field uses math and science to solve real-world problems and make decisions. She decided to switch her studies to this new area. In 1986, she earned her Ph.D. from Cornell. Her main project was about different ways to solve complex math problems.

Working at IBM and Cornell

Even while she was a student, Brenda Dietrich started working at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center. This is a famous place where scientists and engineers do research.

In 2006, she became the president of INFORMS. This is a big group for people who work in operations research and management science. In 2008, she became a Vice President at IBM, focusing on how to use data and math to help the business.

In 2017, she moved back to Cornell University. There, she became a special professor, sharing her knowledge and experience with students.

Books She Helped Write

Brenda Dietrich has helped write important books. One book, called Analytics Across the Enterprise: How IBM Realizes Business Value from Big Data and Analytics, was published in 2014. She wrote it with Emily C. Plachy and Maureen F. Norton. This book explains how IBM uses big data and analytics to improve its business.

She also helped edit another book called Mathematics of the Internet: E-Auction and Markets. This book, published in 2002, looks at how math is used in online auctions and markets.

Awards and Honors

Brenda Dietrich has received many important awards for her work.

Recognized by IBM and INFORMS

In 2007, IBM named her an IBM Fellow. This is a very high honor for scientists and engineers at IBM. It means she is one of the company's top technical experts.

In 2010, she was also named a Fellow of INFORMS. This means she is recognized as a leading expert in the field of operations research. That same year, she won the INFORMS WORMS Award. This award celebrates women who have made great progress in operations research and management science. In 2021, she received the INFORMS President's Award.

Joining the National Academy of Engineering

In 2014, Brenda Dietrich was chosen to be part of the National Academy of Engineering. This is a very special group of engineers in the United States. She was recognized for her work in creating smart ways to solve difficult business problems using math and computer tools.

See also

In Spanish: Brenda L. Dietrich para niños