PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

M. Stuart Lynn

Also known as Melvyn Stuart Lynn

M. Stuart Lynn is a mathematician and computing administrator whose career spanned numerical methods, university computing and digital preservation. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics at Oxford and a master's degree and doctorate at UCLA, published a 1964 paper on the equivalence of SOR, SSOR and USSOR for ordered linear systems, and joined Cornell as vice president for information technologies in 1988 after six years at UC Berkeley. At the Commission on Preservation and Access, he authored a 1990 digital preservation glossary that formed a basis for Commission papers, became interim president in July 1994 and served as a part-time vice president from April 1995, coordinating two preservation groups; ACM elected him a Fellow in 1994 for chairing and directing its Publications Planning Committee. He retired from UC as associate vice president in 1999 and served as ICANN president and CEO from March 2001 to March 2003.

Born
1937
Badges

Years link to their sources.

Timeline

  1. By 1962

    Mathematics at Oxford and UCLA

    He earns B.A. and M.A. degrees in mathematics at Oxford and an M.A. and Ph.D. in mathematics at UCLA.

  2. 1964

    An iterative methods paper

    In 1964, he publishes a paper on the equivalence of SOR, SSOR and USSOR for σ1-ordered systems of linear equations in Comput. J.

  3. 1988

    Computing at Berkeley and Cornell

    In 1988, he joins Cornell as vice president for information technologies after six years as director of computing affairs and professor of electrical engineering and computer science at UC Berkeley.

  4. 1990

    A digital preservation glossary

    He authors the TAAC report Preservation and Access Technology–A Structured Glossary of Technical Terms in 1990; it forms a basis for Commission papers on preservation and access in a digital environment.

  5. 1994

    An ACM Fellowship

    In 1994, the ACM elects him a Fellow for chairing and directing its Publications Planning Committee, which produces a long-term policy framework and the current implementation plan for ACM publications.

  6. July 1994–April 1995

    Leading a preservation commission

    He becomes interim president of the Commission on Preservation and Access in July 1994. In April 1995, he serves as a part-time vice president, coordinating the Digital Preservation Consortium and the Task Force on Archiving of Digital Information during their startup phases.

  7. 1999

    Retiring from UC leadership

    In 1999, he retires from the University of California Office of the President as associate vice president for information resources and communications and system CIO.

  8. March 2001–March 2003

    ICANN president and CEO

    From March 2001 to March 2003, he serves as ICANN president and CEO and an ex officio member of its board.

Career

  1. 2001–2003Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and NumbersPresident and CEO
  2. Until 1999University of CaliforniaAssociate Vice President for Information Resources and Communications
  3. 1994–1995Commission on Preservation and AccessInterim President, Part-time Vice President
  4. Until 1988University of California, BerkeleyDirector of Computing Affairs and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
  5. From 1988Cornell University

Education

  1. 1962University of California, Los AngelesM.A. and PhD in mathematics
  2. University of OxfordB.A. and M.A. in mathematics

From the biography.

  1. 11% of AI doctorate holders from 2010 to 2016 founded or led a company or lab by 10 years after graduationIncludes Cornell University. We estimate how often AI doctorate holders founded or led a company or lab by 10 years after graduation, how waiting times compare between founders and top jobs, and which universities trained the most.
  2. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes Cornell University. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and 5+ year employment links, career timing and current workplaces for 187 major-prize and 1,111 best-paper winners.
  3. 84% of people shaping AI with recorded undergraduate and doctoral schools changed institutions for their doctorateIncludes Cornell University. 84% of people shaping AI with recorded undergraduate and doctoral schools changed institutions for their doctorate. Across 2,116 people with both an undergraduate degree and a doctorate recorded, we trace which undergraduate schools feed which doctoral programs, how often students stay at the same school, and how paths differ by birth-country region.
  4. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of California, Berkeley. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

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  1. ICANN Elects Dr. M. Stuart Lynn as New President and CEO icann.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  2. M. Stuart Lynn | CSAuthors csauthors.net. Checked 21 October 2026.
  3. CPA Newsletter #68, Jun 1994 • CLIR clir.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  4. Preservation and access technology | Digital and other media conversion processes | Structured glossary of technical terms agris.fao.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  5. CPA Annual Report: 1994 - 1995 • CLIR clir.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  6. M. Stuart Lynn - ICANN icann.org. Checked 21 October 2026.