Carl Smith
Prof. Carl Smith passed away on July 21, 2004 after a long and valiant battle with cancer.
Carl received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Vermont in 1972 and his Ph. D. from State University of Buffalo in 1979. He was an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Purdue University, and then moved to the University of Maryland where he was subsequently promoted to Associate and Full Professor. Carl was also granted the Habilitation degree from the University of Latvia in 1993, and had a long and fruitful collaboration with Latvia's leading theoretical computer scientists. In fact, Carl was one of a small and select group of non-Latvians elected to the Latvian Academy of Science.
Carl was one of the nation's leading theoretical computer scientists working on problems in learning theory. He served as editor of many of the field's most prestigious journals, including Theoretical Computer Science, Fundamenta Informaticae, and the International Journal of the Foundations of Computer Science. He advised seven Ph. D. students during his career at Maryland.
Carl spent several years at the National Science Foundation as the program manager for the theoretical computer science program, and continued to spend one day a week working at NSF on programs and review panels.
All of Carl's colleagues and friends at Maryland are deeply saddened by his loss. He was an important and valued member of our Department and the national computer science community. The family is asking that in Carl's memory, donations be made to fund the Mark Fulk award for the best student paper at the annual Conference on Learning Theory. Send donations to:
Mark Fulk Scholarship Fund
c/o Pat Smith
707 Kennebec Ave
Takoma Park, MD, 20912
