Margaret Burnett facts for kids

Margaret M. Burnett (born in 1949) is a computer scientist who studies how people use computers and how software is made. She is famous for her early work on visual programming languages, which let people create computer programs using pictures and diagrams instead of just text. She also helped people who aren't professional programmers create their own software, and she worked on making software fair and welcoming for everyone, no matter their gender.

Margaret Burnett is a very respected professor of Computer Science at Oregon State University. She is also a member of the CHI Academy and a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, which are big honors in the computer science world. Even though she is over 75, she continues to teach and inspire students.

Early Life and Learning

Margaret Burnett was born in 1949 in Springfield, Illinois. She went to Miami University of Ohio from 1967 to 1970. She was interested in their new computer science program, but she ended up studying mathematics.

After college, she worked as a software engineer for Procter & Gamble. She was the first woman to get a management job at their factory and research center in Cincinnati, Ohio. She later moved and started her own business.

Becoming a Computer Scientist

Margaret Burnett decided to go back to school at the University of Kansas. She earned her master's degree in 1981. She then worked as a consultant, helping businesses with computer problems. Later, she started a small consulting business with a professor from the university.

She returned to the University of Kansas for her Ph.D., which she finished in 1987. Her special project was about visual programming languages, which are ways to create computer programs using pictures and visual tools.

Teaching at Universities

After getting her Ph.D., Margaret Burnett became a professor at Michigan Technological University. In 1993, she moved to Oregon State University's Computer Science Department. She and another professor, Cherri M. Pancake, were the first two women hired as full-time computer science professors at Oregon State. This was an important step for women in computer science.

Making a Difference

Margaret Burnett has always worked to help others and make things better.

Supporting Women

When she was a student at the University of Kansas, she started a group called the Lawrence Women's Network. This group helped professional women in the area connect and support each other. It is still active today!

Fair Software for Everyone

In the early 2000s, Margaret Burnett began to create ways for software designers to check if their software was fair and welcoming to all genders. She has given many important speeches about making software and the software industry more inclusive for everyone.

Awards and Honors

Margaret Burnett has received many awards for her important work.

In 2016, she became a Distinguished Professor at Oregon State University. That same year, she was also named to the CHI Academy, which recognizes leaders in human-computer interaction.

In 2017, she was chosen as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery. This honor was given to her for her work in helping everyday people create software, understanding how software can have gender biases, and encouraging more people to join the field of computing. In 2023, she also received the Anita Borg Institute Women of Vision Award for her leadership in technology.