Gerald J. Lieberman
In the 1960s, as the Operations Research Department germinated at Stanford, inaugural chair Gerald Lieberman and his former student Frederick Hillier published Introduction to Operations Research, a profoundly influential text. Now in its ninth edition, the book's recognitions include the 2004 Expository Writing Award of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences. — As seen in the display of Management Science and Engineering books on the first floor of Huang Engineering Center, illustrating the kinds of world-changing innovations that have emerged from the School of Engineering
With a master's degree in statistics from Columbia in 1949, Gerald Lieberman went to work at the National Bureau of Standards. It was there in 1950 that Albert Bowker met and recruited him to join the PhD program in the newly formed Department of Statistics at Stanford. Immediately after defending his dissertation in 1953, Jerry joined our faculty with a joint appointment in Statistics and Industrial Engineering.
Jerry played a key role in creating a Program in Operations Research in 1961 and then a Department of Operations Research in 1967. Dean of Engineering Joseph Pettit appointed him as the first department chair, a position he held until 1975. He then was asked to help out as Associate Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences.
During the remainder of his Cardinal career, Jerry supported the administrations of three Stanford Presidents. Richard Lyman appointed him Vice Provost and Dean of Research, subsequently Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, from 1977 to 1985. After serving as Chairman of the Academic Senate's Centennial Operating Committee, including a year as the Chairman, and later on the Advisory Board, in 1992 Donald Kennedy asked him to assume the mantle of Provost. Jerry continued as acting Provost for an additional year at the request of Gerhard Casper. His well-earned retirement began on September 1, 1994.
In 1985, Jerry received the university's Kenneth M. Cuthbertson Award for exceptional service to Stanford, citing among other accomplishments his "tireless efforts on behalf of Stanford's graduate students." In their own special recognition, the Athletics Department presented him with a lifetime on-field pass to Stanford football games!