Mark Dean

A Pioneering Force Behind the PC Revolution

A key figure in the PC revolution, Mark Dean is credited with helping to create the IBM personal computer in 1981. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2011 for his important contributions to the development of personal computers. He has also been inducted to the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
A native of Tennessee, Dean graduated at the top of his class from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He returned to the university in 2013 to teach computer science. In 2018, he was tapped to serve as interim dean of the school’s college of engineering. In 2019, Knox County declared April 25th to be Dr. Mark Dean Day in recognition of the UT dean and pioneering computer scientist.

Building a Trusted Future

Dean was a key figure in the development of the modern PC. He led the team that created the first one gigahertz computer processor chip, and he holds three of IBM’s nine PC patents from his work on IBM’s personal computer.
With Dennis Moeller, Dean developed the Industry Standard Architecture, or ISA, in the early 1980s, to enable computers to efficiently connect to keyboards, mice, printers, disk drives, and other devices. The ISA system bus that the two developed at IBM—a version of which remains standard on PCs today—revolutionized personal computing by allowing users to connect devices simply by plugging them in.

I personally believe most of the industry [doesn't] understand the benefits of a diverse workforce (awareness of societal norms and biases, cross-sectional innovation, diversity of leadership styles, out-of-the-box thinking, brand strength across all parts of society, better understanding of emerging markets -- domestic and international). Most industry leaders, including corporate boards, aren't willing to do what it takes to make a difference and create a diverse workforce.

Mark Dean