2008 ACS Award

Richard M. Cyert (HD 1989) and Margaret Schadick Cyert (HA 1993) 

The Cyert administration, spanning from 1972 to 1990, catapulted Carnegie Mellon University to national prominence. Sixth president Dick Cyert's vision for the university is legendary, as is Margaret Cyert's caring for the members of the university community.

Margaret and Dick came to Carnegie Tech in 1948 when Dick accepted an economics position after earning a Ph.D. at Columbia University. They raised their daughters, Lynn, Lucinda, and Martha in Pittsburgh and work together to build Carnegie Mellon for decades.

Dick served as dean of the Graduate School of Industrial Administration from 1962 to 1972. Then as president, he championed the establishment of the Robotics Institute, Software Engineering Institute and Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center. During his presidency, the Department of Computer Science grew into the School of Computer Science; and the pioneering Andrew computing network was developed, linking all computers and workstations on campus to make Carnegie Mellon the first completely wired university.

Margaret's role in the Cyert Administration was vital. She reassured parents on freshmen move-in day and enlisted Warner Hall staff to help students carry their belongings across the Cut. She is famous for establishing the "cookies before exams" program, which she now continues in collaboration with the University Libraries. She also accompanied Dick throughout the world as the university's reach expanded.

Margaret, a longtime advocate of early childhood education, earned her master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh, in 1982. Carnegie Mellon named the Margaret Shadick Cyert Center for Early Education in her honor. Margaret also champions the University Libraries, serves on its development board and supports numerous library initiatives. She joined Dick in establishing three professorships and a scholarship for the university in addition to supporting the Cyert Center and the Children's School. Following Dick's death in 1998, Margaret has faithfully continued her active involvement in and support of the university.

The Andrew Carnegie Society shares an important history with the Cyerts; it was founded in 1972 during the first year of the Cyert administration.
 

Photo courtesy of University Archives