Deborah Washington Brown | |
|---|---|
| Born | Deborah Blanche Washington June 3, 1952 |
| Died | (aged 68) |
| Alma mater | |
| Known for |
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| Spouse | Ruel Brown |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | first Black computer scientist to earn a Ph.D. in applied mathematics at Harvard |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer science |
| Thesis | The solution of difference equations describing array manipulation in program loops |
Deborah Washington Brown (June 3, 1952 – June 5, 2020) was an American computer scientist and speech recognition researcher who worked at AT&T Bell Labs, and other companies for many years doing speech recognition research. She was the first black woman to earn a doctorate in computer science (then a part of their applied math program) at Harvard University in 1981[1] from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. She was one of the first black female computer scientists to graduate from a U. S. doctoral program. Mrs. Brown passed on June 5 after a long battle with cancer, her achievements and legacy remain as an inspiration for those who have followed in her footsteps.