Charles Simonyi Awarded John von Neumann Professorship
Charles Simonyi, Chair Emeritus of the Institute for Advanced Study’s Board of Trustees, has been awarded a John von Neumann Professorship by the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The distinction, jointly conferred by BME and the John von Neumann Computer Society, was presented during the ceremonial opening of the university’s 245th academic year.
According to BME, the prestigious title is awarded to "an internationally well-known and acknowledged professor of a Hungarian or foreign university whose field of expertise and activities are related to the scientific achievements of John von Neumann and whose activities are connected to BME."
BME praised Simonyi as "one of the most influential figures in the development of personal computer software." After earning a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University in 1977, he led the development of Bravo at Xerox PARC—the world's first word-processing program—before joining Microsoft in 1981, where he led the teams behind Microsoft Word and Excel.
Simonyi joined the Institute's Board of Trustees in 1997 and served as Board Chair from 2008 to 2023, acting as a generous supporter, steady leader, and fierce advocate for the Institute’s global role as a home for groundbreaking research.
Simonyi's receipt of this professorship carries special resonance at IAS, where John von Neumann served as one of the founding Professors in the School of Mathematics from 1933 until 1955. During his tenure, von Neumann led the Institute’s Electronic Computer Project, building the pioneering machine that laid the mathematical and engineering foundation for modern computing.
As a John von Neumann Professor, Simonyi joins an illustrious group of scholars with Institute connections to receive the honor. Previous IAS awardees, all from the School of Mathematics, include László Lovász, Visiting Professor (2011–12); Endre Szemerédi, Member (2007–08, 2009–10); and László Székelyhidi, Member (2003–04) and Distinguished Visiting Professor (2021–22). The distinction also holds a deep personal connection for Simonyi: his father, Károly Simonyi, who is known for creating the first Hungarian particle accelerator, served as a professor of electrical engineering at BME.
Read more about the von Neumann Professorships on the BME website.
