Photo of Erna Schneider Hoover

Erna Schneider Hoover

1926 - Present
Logic, Computer Science
USA USA

Personal Information

Born: 1926

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: White

Education

Wellesley College BA Classical & Medieval Philosophy & History 1948; Yale University PhD Philosophy & Foundations of Mathematics 1951

Professional Life

Field of Study: Logic, Computer Science

Institution/Corporation: Bell Labs

Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree: College of NJ (2020); Member: Phi Beta Kappa, Board of Trustees of the College of NJ (1980), NJ Board of Higher Education (1983)

Awards & Achievements

Awards: 2008, National Inventors Hall of Fame; 2007, Columbia H.S. Hall of Fame; 1990, Wellesley College Alumni Achievement Award; Durant Scholar; 2023, Pioneer Award, NCWIT

Achievements: Computerized Telephone Switching; 1st female supervisor of a technical dept at Bell Labs; holds 1 of the world s 1st software patents

Believed to be the 1st woman to receive a computer software patent in the history of technology

Invented a computerized telephone switching system while working at Bell Telephone Labs

Worked at Bell Labs over 32 years

Thought of her invention while recuperating in a hospital after the birth of her 2nd daughter

Instrumental in increasing the number of female faculty while on the Board of Trustees of The College of New Jersey

Holds 1 patent