Description

Sister Mary Kenneth Keller was one of the first women in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in computer science. Her groundbreaking work in the development of the BASIC programming language made computing more accessible to non-specialists, enabling a broader range of people to harness the power of technology. As a Catholic nun, she combined her passion for education and technology by founding the computer science department at Clarke College (now Clarke University) in Iowa, where she championed the integration of computers into education. Keller's visionary efforts not only advanced the field of computer science but also inspired countless students, particularly women, to pursue careers in technology.