# Michael Lester Norman

> Ph.D. University of California, Davis 1980

**Wikidata**: [Q102180093](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102180093)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/michael-lester-norman

## Summary
Michael Lester Norman is an American computer scientist and academic researcher. He is best known for his doctoral work at the University of California, Davis and his subsequent role in mentoring the next generation of computer science scholars.

## Biography
- **Education**: Ph.D., University of California, Davis (1980)
- **Known for**: Academic research in computer science and doctoral mentorship
- **Field(s)**: Computer science

## Contributions
Michael Lester Norman is a computer scientist whose primary professional contributions are centered on academic research and the formal mentorship of subsequent researchers in the field. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis in 1980, a period of significant development for the university's computer science programs. His doctoral research was supervised by James R. Wilson, a notable figure in the academic community. 

Norman’s legacy in computer science is further evidenced by his role as a doctoral advisor to several researchers who have made their own marks on the industry. He mentored Greg Bryan and Henry Joel Neeman, both of whom have pursued advanced careers in the sciences. Henry Joel Neeman, for instance, followed Norman’s path into computer science, eventually earning a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1996. Norman’s professional standing and academic output are documented through various international identifiers, including MR Author ID 225498 and Astrogen ID 13646. These records signify his participation in the formal dissemination of mathematical and computational knowledge. His work is also tracked via the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 50747), which maps the intellectual lineage of scholars and their contributions to the global scientific community.

## FAQs
### Q: Where did Michael Lester Norman receive his education?
A: Michael Lester Norman earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in 1980.

### Q: Who was Michael Lester Norman's doctoral advisor?
A: His doctoral studies were supervised by James R. Wilson.

### Q: Which notable students did Michael Lester Norman advise?
A: He served as the doctoral advisor for Greg Bryan and Henry Joel Neeman, the latter of whom became a computer scientist and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

### Q: What is Michael Lester Norman's primary profession?
A: He is a computer scientist and academic.

## Why They Matter
Michael Lester Norman represents a significant link in the academic genealogy of computer science. By earning his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis in 1980, he contributed to the growth of the field during a period of foundational technological evolution. His importance is underscored by his mentorship of doctoral students such as Greg Bryan and Henry Joel Neeman. The success of his students—particularly Neeman’s subsequent career as a computer scientist and Ph.D. recipient from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—demonstrates Norman's lasting impact on the training and development of high-level researchers. 

Furthermore, Norman’s inclusion in global knowledge databases like the Google Knowledge Graph and the Mathematics Genealogy Project ensures that his academic contributions and lineage remain accessible for historical and scholarly analysis. His career illustrates the collaborative nature of scientific advancement, where the relationship between an advisor like James R. Wilson and a student like Norman facilitates the continued expansion of the computer science discipline across multiple generations. Without the foundational research and mentorship provided by figures like Norman, the academic pipeline for modern computer science would lack these essential historical connections.

## Notable For
- **Doctoral Mentorship**: Served as the advisor for computer scientists Greg Bryan and Henry Joel Neeman.
- **Academic Lineage**: Recorded in the Mathematics Genealogy Project (ID 50747) as a student of James R. Wilson.
- **University Affiliation**: Alumnus of the University of California, Davis, a major public research institution.
- **Professional Recognition**: Indexed in major scientific databases including Astrogen and the MR Author database.

## Body
### Academic Background
Michael Lester Norman completed his advanced scientific training at the University of California, Davis. He received his Ph.D. in 1980. His doctoral research was conducted under the supervision of James R. Wilson. This academic foundation positioned him within the University of California system, a prominent network for computer science research in the United States.

### Mentorship and Academic Legacy
A significant portion of Norman's professional footprint is defined by his role in guiding doctoral candidates. He is credited as the doctoral advisor for:
- **Greg Bryan**
- **Henry Joel Neeman**: Neeman later earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1996 and became a practicing computer scientist.

### Professional Identifiers and Records
Norman is recognized across several international academic databases that track scientific contributions and genealogy:
- **Mathematics Genealogy Project**: ID 50747
- **Astrogen**: ID 13646
- **MR Author ID**: 225498
- **Google Knowledge Graph**: /g/11fct_gz_h

These identifiers confirm his status as a "human" instance of a "computer scientist" within the global knowledge base, specifically associated with the industrial and service sectors of computer science.

## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project