Martha Pollack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Pollack
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Pollack in 2017
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| 14th President of Cornell University | |
| In office April 17, 2017 – June 30, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Elizabeth Garrett |
| Succeeded by | Michael Kotlikoff |
| 14th Provost of the University of Michigan | |
| In office 2013–2017 |
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| Preceded by | Philip J. Hanlon |
| Succeeded by | Martin Philbert |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Martha Elizabeth Pollack
August 27, 1958 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Spouse | Ken Gottschlich |
| Education | Dartmouth College (BA) University of Pennsylvania (MA, PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions |
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| Thesis | Inferring domain plans in question-answering (1986) |
| Doctoral advisor | Bonnie Webber |
Martha Elizabeth Pollack (born August 27, 1958) is a smart American computer scientist. She is known for her work in artificial intelligence (AI), which is about making computers think and learn like humans.
From 2017 to 2024, Martha Pollack was the 14th president of Cornell University, a very famous school. Before that, she was a top leader at the University of Michigan from 2013 to 2017. Her research in AI includes teaching computers to plan, understand human language, and recognize what people are doing. She also helps guide a big technology company called IBM as a member of its board of directors.
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Early Life and Education
Martha Pollack was born in Stamford, Connecticut, on August 27, 1958. She loved learning from a young age.
In 1979, she finished her first degree at Dartmouth College, where she studied linguistics, which is the study of language. After that, she went to the University of Pennsylvania. There, she earned two more degrees in computer science, including her highest degree, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), in 1986. Her PhD work focused on how computers could understand and answer questions.
Career Journey
Martha Pollack has had an exciting career, working at different universities and research centers.
She started her career at a research center called SRI International, where she worked from 1985 to 1992. Then, she became a professor at the University of Pittsburgh from 1991 to 2000.
Leading at the University of Michigan
In 2000, Pollack joined the team at the University of Michigan. She quickly became a leader there. In 2007, she was chosen to be the dean of the School of Information. This means she was in charge of that whole department. Later, in 2013, she became the 14th provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. This was a very important job, overseeing all the academic programs at the university.
President of Cornell University
On November 14, 2016, the leaders of Cornell University chose Martha Pollack to be their 14th president. She officially started her new role on April 17, 2017, and had a special ceremony to celebrate on August 25, 2017.
As president, she worked to make student life better and safer. She made changes to student groups called fraternities and sororities, like banning strong alcoholic drinks at their events and making sure each house had an adult advisor living there. She also started new plans to improve mental health support for students on campus.
Martha Pollack retired from her role as Cornell University president on June 30, 2024.
Awards and Recognition
Martha Pollack has received many awards and honors for her important work in computer science and artificial intelligence.
In 1991, she received the IJCAI Computers and Thought Award, which is a special award for young researchers in AI. Since 1996, she has been a fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, meaning she is recognized as a top expert in the field.
She also helped lead important groups and publications. From 2001 to 2005, she was the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research. She also served as the president of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence from 2009 to 2010.
Since 2012, she has been a fellow at the Association for Computing Machinery and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which are both very respected groups for scientists. In 2022, she was also chosen to be a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
