# Allen Van Gelder > Ph.D. Stanford University 1987 **Wikidata**: [Q102300528](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102300528) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/allen-van-gelder ## Summary Allen Van Gelder was an American computer scientist and university teacher. He earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1987 and dedicated a significant portion of his career to the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he also advised several doctoral students. ## Biography * Born: 1939-01-24 * Nationality: United States * Education: Ph.D. from Stanford University (1987), also educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. * Known for: Computer science research, university teaching, and doctoral advisement. * Employer(s): University of California, Santa Cruz (1987-2025). * Field(s): Computer science. ## Contributions Allen Van Gelder significantly contributed to the academic landscape of computer science through his research, teaching, and mentorship. His foundational academic achievement was earning his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1987, where he was advised by the distinguished computer scientist Jeffrey David Ullman. This doctoral work marked a key point in his career. Following his graduation, Van Gelder dedicated a substantial portion of his professional life to the University of California, Santa Cruz, serving as an employer from 1987 until his passing in 2025. In this role, he was instrumental in educating and guiding the next generation of computer scientists. He notably served as a doctoral advisor to several students, including Fumiaki Okushi (who received his Ph.D. in 1998), Kirack Sohn (Ph.D. 1993), and Kjell Erik Post (Ph.D. 1994). Through his advisement, he directly influenced their academic and research trajectories, contributing to the body of knowledge in computer science. His long tenure as a university teacher and computer scientist underscores his commitment to the field and its development. ## FAQs ### Q: What was Allen Van Gelder's primary occupation? A: Allen Van Gelder was primarily a computer scientist and a university teacher. He was employed by the University of California, Santa Cruz, for many years. ### Q: Where did Allen Van Gelder receive his education? A: Allen Van Gelder earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1987. He was also educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ### Q: Who was Allen Van Gelder's doctoral advisor? A: Allen Van Gelder's doctoral advisor at Stanford University was Jeffrey David Ullman. ### Q: When did Allen Van Gelder work at the University of California, Santa Cruz? A: Allen Van Gelder was employed at the University of California, Santa Cruz, from 1987 until 2025. ### Q: Did Allen Van Gelder advise any doctoral students? A: Yes, Allen Van Gelder advised several doctoral students, including Fumiaki Okushi, Kirack Sohn, and Kjell Erik Post, at the University of California, Santa Cruz. ## Why They Matter Allen Van Gelder's lasting impact on the field of computer science stems primarily from his extensive career as an educator and mentor. As a university teacher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, for nearly four decades (1987-2025), he played a crucial role in shaping countless students and contributing to the institution's academic reputation. His significance is particularly evident in his capacity as a doctoral advisor. By guiding students such as Fumiaki Okushi, Kirack Sohn, and Kjell Erik Post through their Ph.D. studies, he directly influenced their research and helped cultivate new experts in the field. This mentorship ensured the transfer of advanced knowledge and research methodologies, perpetuating the intellectual lineage of computer science. Furthermore, his own academic background, having completed his Ph.D. under Jeffrey David Ullman at Stanford, positioned him within a prominent academic network, allowing him to bring valuable insights and standards to his own teaching and advisement. Without his dedication to education and mentorship, the academic journeys of his doctoral students and the broader intellectual development within his department would have been different. ## Notable For * Earning a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University in 1987. * Serving as a university teacher and computer scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, from 1987 to 2025. * Advising multiple doctoral students, including Fumiaki Okushi, Kirack Sohn, and Kjell Erik Post. * Being a doctoral student of prominent computer scientist Jeffrey David Ullman. ## Body ### Personal Life and Education Allen Van Gelder was born on January 24, 1939, and passed away on April 25, 2025. He was a citizen of the United States. He was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1987. His doctoral advisor at Stanford was Jeffrey David Ullman. He was in an unmarried partnership with Jane Wilhelms. ### Professional Career Allen Van Gelder was a computer scientist and university teacher. He was employed by the University of California, Santa Cruz, from 1987 until 2025. During his tenure, he contributed to the academic mission of the university and the field of computer science. ### Doctoral Advisement As a faculty member at the University of California, Santa Cruz, Allen Van Gelder served as a doctoral advisor to several students. His doctoral students included: * Fumiaki Okushi (Ph.D. 1998) * Kirack Sohn (Ph.D. 1993) * Kjell Erik Post (Ph.D. 1994) ### Identifiers Allen Van Gelder is associated with several academic and professional identifiers: * MR Author ID: 216775 * DBLP Author ID: g/AllenVanGelder * IEEE Xplore Author ID: 37352962400 * Library of Congress Authority ID: n89617538 * Mathematics Genealogy Project ID: 100757 ## Schema Markup ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "name": "Allen Van Gelder", "jobTitle": "Computer Scientist, University Teacher", "worksFor": {"@type": "Organization", "name": "University of California, Santa Cruz"}, "nationality": {"@type": "Country", "name": "United States"}, "birthDate": "1939-01-24", "deathDate": "2025-04-25", "alumniOf": [ {"@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Stanford University"}, {"@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Massachusetts Institute of Technology"} ], "knowsAbout": ["Computer Science"], "description": "Allen Van Gelder was an American computer scientist and university teacher who earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1987." } ## References 1. Mathematics Genealogy Project 2. [Source](https://news.ucsc.edu/2025/05/in-memoriam-allen-van-gelder/) 3. [Source](https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/grants-pass-or/allen-van-gelder-12362124)