Ellis Horowitz MS’67, PhD’69
What are you currently doing professionally?
I am finishing my 54th year as a professor of computer science; I love working with the students and I love the challenge of keeping up on the latest technology.
Is there a project or accomplishment that you’re especially proud of that has defined your career?
Despite publishing over 100 research papers I am especially proud of my two co-authored books, Fundamentals of Data Structures and Fundamentals of Algorithms. They have been translated into numerous languages and have influenced thousands of students.
What motivated you to study computer science?
I was introduced to programming as an undergraduate and fell in love with the activity.
Why did you come to UW–Madison?
UW-Madison had a famous math department at the time (and probably still does), and I originally was aiming for a PhD in Math, but the computer science department was just forming, and I quickly gravitated to it.
Are there lessons you learned at UW–Madison that have stuck with you ever since?
I very much enjoyed mixing with my fellow graduate students and the faculty, so the lesson for me was to continue to facilitate such interactions.
What are one or two things you did at UW outside of your classes (clubs, study abroad, employment, conferences, internships, etc)? How did these benefit your education, your current career, and/or your life?
I met my wife at the Graduate Club in the Union, and we have been married now 56 years, so that is a big event for me in Madison.
Do you have any advice for current CS students?
Specialize in another field and have CS as a minor or subsidiary major. Stay away from A.I., too many people are already working on it.
What do you like to do for fun?
My hobbies are biking, hiking, and racquetball.
If you had unlimited resources, what kind of tech startup would you create?
Alas, I am too old for a tech startup. I will leave that to the next generation.