Judith Liebman facts for kids

Judith S. Liebman (born July 2, 1936, died July 8, 2023) was an amazing American scientist and engineer. She was an expert in something called operations research, and also a civil engineer and a mechanical engineer. She was a special professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and the only woman to lead a big group called the Operations Research Society of America. This group is now known as INFORMS.

Becoming an Engineer and Scientist

Judith Liebman loved science from a young age. She was inspired by the story of Marie Curie, a famous scientist. In 1958, she earned her first degree in physics from the University of Colorado.

After college, she worked as an engineer and computer programmer. She worked at companies like Convair Astronautics and General Electric. She also worked at Cornell University in the chemistry department.

Studying Operations Research

While at Cornell, she started taking classes in operations research. This field uses math and science to help organizations make better decisions. When her husband got a job at Johns Hopkins University, she moved with him. There, she began studying operations research more deeply.

She earned her Ph.D. in operations research from Johns Hopkins in 1971. She then worked as a professor there for a short time.

A Pioneer at the University of Illinois

In 1972, Judith Liebman moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. She joined the Civil Engineering Department. She also had a smaller role in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

At that time, it was very rare for women to be engineering professors. Judith Liebman became the first female engineering faculty member at the University of Illinois. This was a big step forward!

Later, in 1978, she moved fully to the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. She became a full professor in 1984. From 1987 to 1992, she held an important leadership role. She was the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Dean of the Graduate College at the University of Illinois. She retired in 1996, but still taught for several more years.

Leading Her Profession

In 1987, Judith Liebman became the President of the Operations Research Society of America. She was the very first woman to lead this important professional group. In 1995, this society joined with another group to form the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS).

Awards and Special Recognition

Judith Liebman received several important awards for her work.

• In 1996, INFORMS gave her the George E. Kimball Medal. This award is for people who have made amazing contributions to the field of operations research.
• In 2002, she became one of the first people to be named a Fellow of INFORMS. This means she was recognized as a top expert in her field.

Later Life

Judith Liebman passed away on July 8, 2023, at the age of 86.