Sister Mary Kenneth Keller

Sister Mary Kenneth Keller was born in 1913 in Ohio and became one of the first women in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in computer science. As a Catholic sister and educator, she believed that technology should be used to expand learning and make education accessible to everyone. At a time when computers were still new and few women worked in the field, she helped develop the BASIC programming language, which made coding easier for students and beginners to learn. She later founded the computer science department at Clarke College, where she inspired countless students to explore computing and innovation. Sister Mary Kenneth Keller believed computers would one day become an essential part of education and everyday life—a prediction that proved remarkably accurate. Her vision and dedication helped pave the way for generations of women entering computer science.