Irma Wyman facts for kids

Irma M. Wyman (born January 31, 1928 – died November 17, 2015) was a very important person in the early days of computers. She was one of the first women to become a vice president at a big company called Honeywell, Inc. She also taught about how different parts of a system work together. She was the first woman to be a Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Honeywell. This means she was in charge of all the computer systems and information for the whole company.

Irma's School Days

In 1945, Irma Wyman got a special scholarship to the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. She was one of only seven girls in the program. To help pay for her studies, she worked as a switchboard operator and a waitress.

Back then, it was not easy for women to study engineering. They didn't get much support. Even though Irma's grades were good enough for an engineering honor society called Tau Beta Pi, she only received a "Women's Badge." This was because the society did not allow women to join at that time. Irma finished her degree in 1949.

Irma's Amazing Career

Becoming a Computer Pioneer

While she was still in college, Irma worked on a project to guide missiles. They used old-fashioned mechanical calculators for their math. She visited a place where Grace Hopper, another famous computer pioneer, was working. Grace Hopper was using an early computer called the Mark II. This made Irma very excited about computers. She later said, "I became an enthusiastic pioneer in this new technology, and it led to my life's career."

After graduating, Irma joined a new company that later became part of Honeywell. She moved to Minneapolis and started a long career there. She became a manager and eventually the chief information officer (CIO). Before she retired in 1990, she was the vice president of Honeywell's Corporate Information Management (CIM) department.

A Second Career Helping Others

After retiring from Honeywell, Irma started a second career. She became an archdeacon in the Minnesota Diocese of the Episcopal Church. In this role, she helped coach people on how to be good leaders who serve others. She retired again after ten years.

Irma also supported research about the future. She believed it was important to plan carefully. But she also said, "it's just as important to know when to ignore all the careful planning and seize an opportunity." This means sometimes you need to be flexible and take chances.

Irma Wyman created a scholarship at the University of Michigan. It's called the Irma M. Wyman Scholarship. It helps women who want to study engineering, computer science, and similar subjects. Irma always encouraged women in computer science, just like her own mentor did. Her mentor once said that the most important thing she did was train young people and encourage them to "Try it."

Awards and Honors

Irma Wyman received several awards for her important work:

• Michigan Engineering Alumni Society Medal - 2001
• Honorary Doctor of Engineering, University of Michigan - 2007

Irma's Wise Words

Irma Wyman once said, "We never get a second chance to make a first impression." She said this when she was helping to start a program at Honeywell about keeping information safe.

See also

• In Spanish: Irma Wyman para niños