Co-developer of the BASIC programming language, Kurtz transformed computing education for generations of users.
In 1951, Dr. Kurtz's first experience with computing came at the Summer Session of the Institute for Numerical Analysis at University of California, Los Angeles. His interests had included numerical analysis, statistics, and computer science ever since. Dr. Kurtz graduated from Knox College in 1950 and was awarded a Ph.D. degree from Princeton University in 1956, where his advisor was John Tukey. He joined the Mathematics Department of Dartmouth College that same year.
In 1963 to 1964, Dr. Kurtz and Kemeny developed the first version of the Dartmouth Time-Sharing System, a time-sharing system for university use, and the BASIC language.
