# Lawrence Dowdy > computer scientist **Wikidata**: [Q86852129](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q86852129) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lawrence-dowdy ## Summary Lawrence Dowdy was an American computer scientist and academic who earned a Ph.D. in computer science from Duke University and served on the faculty of Vanderbilt University's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He is best known for his role as a doctoral advisor who supervised a number of Ph.D. students and for his long career in computer science education. ## Biography - Born: 1952-05-17, Wooster - Died: 2018-09-11 - Nationality: United States - Education: B.S. in Computer Science, Florida State University (1974); Ph.D. in Computer Science, Duke University (1977) - Known for: Academic career in computer science and supervision of multiple doctoral students - Employer(s): Vanderbilt University; affiliated with Vanderbilt Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science - Field(s): Computer science ## Contributions Lawrence W. Dowdy’s concrete, documented contributions are primarily in academic training and mentorship and in holding a faculty appointment in computer science. He completed his Ph.D. in computer science at Duke University in 1977 after completing a B.S. in computer science at Florida State University in 1974. As a faculty member affiliated with the Vanderbilt Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Dowdy supervised a substantial group of doctoral students who completed Ph.D. degrees under his supervision. Named doctoral students include Eugenia Smirni, Virgilio Almeida, Amy Vernelle Weathers Apon, Brian Mark Carlson, James Craig Lowery, Kee Hyun Park, Lindsey Earl Stephens, Elizabeth Varki, Thomas Dehon Wagner, and Manish Madhukar. These supervised Ph.D. candidates represent concrete academic outputs (awarded doctorates) tied directly to his role as an advisor. His presence in bibliographic and author databases—VIAF (65670889), MR author id 217931, LibraryThing, Goodreads, and others—records his standing as an author and contributor within scholarly and library systems. ## FAQs ### Q: Who was Lawrence Dowdy? A: Lawrence W. Dowdy was an American computer scientist and academic who earned a Ph.D. in computer science from Duke University (1977) and served on the faculty of Vanderbilt University's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. ### Q: Where did Lawrence Dowdy teach? A: He was affiliated with Vanderbilt University, specifically the Vanderbilt Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. ### Q: Did Lawrence Dowdy advise Ph.D. students? A: Yes. He supervised multiple doctoral students; named students in the record include Eugenia Smirni, Virgilio Almeida, and several others. ## Why They Matter Lawrence Dowdy’s primary, verifiable impact lies in academic mentorship and sustained participation in computer science education. By earning advanced training (Ph.D., Duke University, 1977) and serving on the faculty at Vanderbilt’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Dowdy occupied the roles that produce downstream effects in the discipline: training researchers, advising doctoral dissertations, and contributing to the academic record. The list of doctoral students he advised demonstrates a concrete lineage of researchers who completed Ph.D. degrees under his supervision. This mentorship function is a key mechanism by which methods, problems, and pedagogical approaches are transmitted in computer science. His inclusion in multiple bibliographic and author-identification systems (VIAF, MR author id, library databases) documents a recognized scholarly footprint. Without advisors like Dowdy, the particular cohorts of students he supervised would have lacked his direct guidance in completing their doctoral work; his role therefore contributed to the continuing development of academic computer science through personnel and doctoral outputs. ## Notable For - Earning a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Duke University in 1977. - Serving on the faculty of Vanderbilt University and affiliating with Vanderbilt’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. - Supervising a group of doctoral students, including Eugenia Smirni and Virgilio Almeida. - Being recorded in multiple author and library authority systems (VIAF 65670889; MR author id 217931). - Having academic identifiers in databases such as the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 76228) and other library/catalog systems. ## Body ### Early life and education - Born May 17, 1952, in Wooster. - Completed a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Florida State University in 1974. - Completed a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Computer Science at Duke University in 1977. ### Academic career and affiliation - Held a faculty appointment and affiliation with Vanderbilt University. - Specifically affiliated with the Vanderbilt Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (as recorded in Vanderbilt faculty listings). - Employer record lists Vanderbilt University (reference date present in source material). ### Doctoral supervision and students - Documented doctoral students supervised by Lawrence Dowdy: - Eugenia Smirni - Virgilio Almeida - Amy Vernelle Weathers Apon - Brian Mark Carlson - James Craig Lowery - Kee Hyun Park - Lindsey Earl Stephens - Elizabeth Varki - Thomas Dehon Wagner - Manish Madhukar - Supervision of these students represents concrete academic outputs (Ph.D. graduates mentored by Dowdy). ### Bibliographic and identifier records - VIAF identifier: 65670889. - MR author id: 217931 (listed as Dowdy, Lawrence W.). - Mathematics Genealogy Project ID: 76228. - Other author/catalog identifiers include Goodreads author id 4281956, LibraryThing author id dowdylarry, and NACSIS-CAT author id DA08270698. ### Personal and legacy details - Full legal/given names recorded: Lawrence Wilson Dowdy; aliases include Lawrence W. Dowdy and Larry Dowdy. - U.S. citizen. Male. - Died September 11, 2018. - Obituary and death records are present in legacy and tribute archives. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.cs.umd.edu/system/files/newsletter/CS%20Newsletter%2024%20February%201978.pdf) 2. Mathematics Genealogy Project 3. [Source](https://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/eecs/faculty-staff/index.php) 4. [Larry Dowdy Obituary | Nashville Funeral and Cremation | Nashville, TN](https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/21102720/larry-dowdy) 5. [Larry Dowdy Obituary (2018) - Nashville, TN - Nashville Funeral and Cremation](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/larry-dowdy-obituary?id=31468607)