| Name | Jewell Turnbull |
| Race | African-American |
| Impact | Pioneering figure in the nascent field of computer science, advocate for diversity and inclusion |
| Occupation | Computer scientist • Engineer |
| Nationality | American |
| Contributions | Developed innovative programming languages • Led creation of early AI systems • Trained first generation of African-American computer scientists |
Jewell Turnbull was an American computer scientist and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of programming languages, artificial intelligence, and other core digital technologies in the mid-20th century. As one of the first prominent African-American figures in the nascent field of computer science, Turnbull was a pioneering advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM fields.
Jewell Turnbull was born in 1928 in Harlem, New York City to a family of educators. She showed an early aptitude for mathematics and science, and after graduating high school she attended the historically black Howard University, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics in 1950.
Turnbull then went on to earn a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1952, becoming one of the first African-American women to earn an advanced degree from the prestigious institution. It was at MIT that she became fascinated by the emerging field of digital computing and decided to pursue a career in computer science.
After completing her education, Turnbull joined the National Bureau of Standards (NBS, later the National Institute of Standards and Technology) in 1953 as a computer programmer. There, she played a key role in the development of some of the earliest programming languages, including an early version of FORTRAN in 1957.
In 1960, Turnbull moved to the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, where she led a team that created one of the first functional AI systems, a program called ELIZA that could engage in natural language conversations. This work helped lay the foundations for the field of conversational AI.
Throughout the 1960s, Turnbull continued to push the boundaries of computer science, developing new programming languages and data structures. She is credited as a co-creator of the LISP language, which would become a cornerstone of AI research. Turnbull also made pioneering contributions to the emerging field of computer graphics.
In 1970, Turnbull accepted a faculty position at Howard University, her alma mater, where she would spend the remainder of her career. As a professor, she trained many of the first generation of African-American computer scientists, including several who went on to become leaders in the field.
Turnbull was passionate about increasing diversity and representation in STEM fields. She advocated tirelessly for greater access to computer science education, particularly for women and minority students. She also worked to address systemic biases and discrimination within the technology industry.
Jewell Turnbull's groundbreaking technical work, innovative teaching, and advocacy for inclusion have cemented her legacy as a towering figure in the history of computer science. She is widely recognized as a trailblazer who helped pave the way for greater diversity and equity in the digital age.
Turnbull retired from Howard University in 1990 and passed away in 2005 at the age of 77. She received numerous accolades over the course of her career, including the National Medal of Science, the Turing Award, and induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
