# Martha Pollack

> American computer scientist and corporate director

**Wikidata**: [Q20111482](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20111482)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Pollack)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/martha-pollack

## Summary
Martha Pollack is an American computer scientist and corporate director who has made significant contributions to planning systems design and discourse analysis. She served as president of Cornell University from 2017 to 2023, following distinguished academic career at the University of Michigan and University of Pittsburgh.

## Biography
- Born: 1958-08-27 in Stamford
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania
- Known for: Contributions to planning with limited resources and discourse analysis
- Employer(s): Cornell University (2017-2023), University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh
- Field(s): Computer science, planning systems, discourse analysis

## Contributions
Martha Pollack has made pioneering contributions to artificial intelligence through her research in planning with limited resources and discourse analysis. Her work in the early 1990s on planning with limited resources addressed fundamental challenges in computational theory, enabling more efficient automated planning systems. She published innovative research in discourse analysis that advanced how computers understand and generate human language. In 1991, she received the prestigious IJCAI Computers and Thought Award for her contributions to the field. Her later research in planning systems design has had practical applications in robotics, scheduling, and automated decision-making systems.

## FAQs
### Q: What awards has Martha Pollack received for her work?
A: Martha Pollack has received numerous prestigious awards including AAAI Fellow (1996), ACM Fellow (2011), IJCAI Computers and Thought Award (1991), and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2022).

### Q: What positions has Martha Pollack held in higher education?
A: Martha Pollack served as president of Cornell University from 2017 to 2023. Prior to this, she held various academic positions at the University of Michigan and University of Pittsburgh, where she was a professor of computer science.

### Q: Who mentored Martha Pollack during her academic career?
A: Martha Pollack's doctoral advisors were Bonnie Webber and Barbara J. Grosz, both prominent figures in computer science and artificial intelligence research.

### Q: What impact has Martha Pollack had on the field of computer science?
A: Martha Pollack's work in planning with limited resources and discourse analysis has fundamentally advanced artificial intelligence research. Her research has enabled more efficient computational planning systems and improved how computers understand human language. She has also mentored numerous doctoral students who have gone on to make their own significant contributions to the field.

## Why They Matter
Martha Pollack's contributions have fundamentally advanced the field of artificial intelligence by addressing critical challenges in planning with limited resources and discourse analysis. Her research has created practical applications that are used in robotics, scheduling systems, and automated decision-making tools across industries. As a mentor, she has guided numerous doctoral students who have gone on to become leaders in computer science, extending her impact beyond her own research. Her leadership as university president has also shaped the direction of academic institutions and computer science education.

## Notable For
- Recipient of AAAI Fellow award (1996) for contributions to planning with limited resources and discourse analysis
- Recipient of ACM Fellow award (2011) for contributions to planning systems design and service to the computing community
- Served as president of Cornell University from 2017 to 2023
- Mentored numerous doctoral students including R. Michael Young, Bart Peintner, and David Joslin
- Recognized as Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2022)

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Martha Elizabeth Pollack was born on August 27, 1958, in Stamford. She completed her undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and went on to earn her doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania. Her doctoral advisors were Bonnie Webber and Barbara J. Grosz, both prominent figures in computer science.

### Academic Career
Pollack has held academic positions at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Michigan. At these institutions, she served as professor of computer science, where she conducted research in planning systems, discourse analysis, and artificial intelligence. From April 17, 2017, to 2023, she served as president of Cornell University, where she led the institution through significant developments in its academic and research programs.

### Research Contributions
Pollack's research has primarily focused on planning with limited resources and discourse analysis. Her work in planning with limited resources addressed fundamental challenges in computational theory, enabling more efficient automated planning systems. In discourse analysis, she developed methods for how computers understand and generate human language, with applications in natural language processing and human-computer interaction.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout her career, Pollack has received numerous awards recognizing her contributions to computer science. In 1991, she received the IJCAI Computers and Thought Award. In 1996, she was named a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). In 2011, she became a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2022, she was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

### Professional Affiliations
Pollack is an active member of several professional organizations. She belongs to the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and has been a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery since 2011. She is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, reflecting her significant contributions to both computer science and broader academic leadership.

### Legacy and Impact
As a mentor, Pollack has supervised numerous doctoral students who have gone on to make their own significant contributions to computer science. Her research has created practical applications used across various industries, and her leadership as university president has influenced the direction of academic institutions. Her work continues to influence new researchers in artificial intelligence and planning systems.

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## References

1. [Source](https://cse.engin.umich.edu/stories/martha-pollack-named-fellow-of-aaas-acm)
2. [Source](https://president.cornell.edu/about/)
3. [Source](https://aaai.org/about-aaai/aaai-awards/the-aaai-fellows-program/elected-aaai-fellows/)
4. [Source](https://www.acm.org/binaries/content/assets/press-releases/2011/december/acm-fellows-2011c.pdf)
5. [Source](https://www.aaas.org/fellows/historic?field_last_name_value=All&name_combine=&field_institutional_affiliation_value=&field_address_city=All&field_address_when_elected_administrative_area=All&field_address_when_elected_country_code=All&field_year_elected=2011&field_primary_aaas_section=All&field_status_value=All&field_year_status_changed_value=&page=14)
6. [Source](https://www.aaas.org/news/aaas-members-elected-fellows-0)
7. [Source](https://www.amacad.org/new-members-2022)
8. Mathematics Genealogy Project
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. CiNii Research
11. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File