# Mary Jean Harrold

> American computer scientist (1947-2013)

**Wikidata**: [Q15993062](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15993062)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jean_Harrold)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mary-jean-harrold

## Summary
Mary Jean Harrold (1947-2013) was an American computer scientist renowned for her pioneering contributions in software engineering and testing. She served as a university educator and researcher at leading institutions including Georgia Tech, Clemson University, and Ohio State University, and was honored as an ACM Fellow in 2003 and IEEE Fellow in 2011.

## Biography
- Born: March 12, 1947
- Nationality: United States
- Education: 
  - Doctor of Philosophy from University of Pittsburgh
  - Master of Science from Marshall University
- Known for: Contributions to software engineering and testing
- Employer(s): Georgia Tech, Clemson University, Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh
- Field(s): Computer science, software engineering

## Contributions
Mary Jean Harrold made significant contributions to software testing and program analysis throughout her academic career. Her research focused on improving software quality through systematic testing approaches and analysis techniques. As an educator, she mentored numerous doctoral students who went on to become prominent figures in computer science, including Gregg Rothermel and Mary Lou Soffa. Her work helped establish foundational principles in software engineering that continue to influence both academia and industry practices. She published extensively in top computing venues and was sought after for her expertise in program analysis and software reliability methodologies.

## FAQs
### Q: What awards did Mary Jean Harrold receive during her career?
A: Mary Jean Harrold was honored as an ACM Fellow in 2003 and IEEE Fellow in 2011, recognizing her significant contributions to computer science and software engineering.

### Q: Which institutions did Mary Jean Harrold work for?
A: Mary Jean Harrold was affiliated with several universities throughout her career, including Georgia Tech, Clemson University, Ohio State University, and University of Pittsburgh.

### Q: Who were Mary Jean Harrold's notable academic collaborations?
A: She worked closely with Mary Lou Soffa as her doctoral advisor and mentored several prominent computer scientists including Gregg Rothermel, Donglin Liang, Saurbach Sinha, Roland H. Untch, and Raul Santelices.

### Q: What was Mary Jean Harrold's field of research?
A: Harrold specialized in computer science and software engineering, with particular focus on software testing and program analysis.

## Why They Matter
Mary Jean Harrold's work fundamentally advanced the field of software engineering by developing systematic approaches to software testing and analysis. Her research improved software quality and reliability, which has become increasingly important as software systems have grown in complexity and criticality. As an educator, she trained generations of computer scientists who now continue her legacy of rigorous research and practical application. Without her contributions, software development practices would be less systematic and reliable, potentially resulting in more software failures and security vulnerabilities.

## Notable For
- Recipient of ACM Fellowship in 2003 for contributions to software engineering and testing
- Recipient of IEEE Fellowship in 2011 for pioneering work in software analysis
- Mentored numerous prominent computer scientists including Gregg Rothermel and Mary Lou Soffa
- Established foundational principles in software testing and program analysis
- Served as university educator and researcher at leading institutions including Georgia Tech and Clemson University

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Mary Jean Tomlinson (later Harrold) was born on March 12, 1947, in the United States. She pursued her higher education at Marshall University, where she earned a Master of Science degree, and later at the University of Pittsburgh, where she obtained her Doctor of Philosophy degree. Her doctoral advisor was Mary Lou Soffa, a prominent computer scientist.

### Academic Career
Harrold held faculty positions at several universities throughout her career, including University of Pittsburgh, Ohio State University, Clemson University, and Georgia Tech. She served as a university teacher and researcher in the field of computer science, with a focus on software engineering.

### Research Focus
Her primary research areas included software testing, program analysis, and software engineering methodologies. She developed systematic approaches to improve software quality and reliability through rigorous testing and analysis techniques.

### Mentorship
Harrold was known for her mentorship of doctoral students who became influential figures in computer science. Notable students included Donglin Liang, Saurbach Sinha, Roland H. Untch, Gregg Rothermel, and Raul Santelices.

### Professional Recognition
Harrold was elected as an ACM Fellow in 2003 and IEEE Fellow in 2011, recognizing her significant contributions to the field of computer science and software engineering. These honors reflect the impact of her research and teaching on the computing community.

### Later Life and Death
Mary Jean Harrold passed away on September 19, 2013, in Huntington. Her contributions to computer science continue to influence research and education in software engineering.

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## References

1. [Source](https://cacm.acm.org/news/168025-in-memoriam-mary-jean-harrold-1947-2013/fulltext)
2. Mathematics Genealogy Project
3. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-recipients)