Daniel Sabbah ’74, ’78 (MS), ’82 (PhD) commits $2 million to establish a distinguished computer science professorship at the Hajim School
Daniel Sabbah ’74, ’78 (MS), ’82 (PhD) commits $2 million to establish a distinguished computer science professorship at the Hajim School
Gift advances faculty excellence, honors the department’s 50th anniversary
Daniel Sabbah ’74, ’78 (MS), ’82 (PhD)
Daniel Sabbah ’74, ’78 (MS), ’82 (PhD), former chief technology officer and general manager of IBM Cloud and Next Gen Computing, has committed $2 million to establish the 50th Anniversary Distinguished Professorship in Computer Science. This endowed gift will help the Hajim School’s Department of Computer Science recognize, attract, and advance faculty excellence in teaching and research.
“We are incredibly grateful to Danny for his vision, partnership, and history of generosity,” says Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School. “This gift honors the computer science department’s 50 year legacy of excellence, creates a vital pathway to support our faculty, and aligns with the University’s Boundless Possibility 2030 Strategic Plan. Its impact will certainly be felt for generations, building on the department’s strengths in artificial intelligence, systems, theory, and human-computer interaction.”
“My career depended on the skills and knowledge I gained at Rochester and, now, I am in a position where I can help facilitate opportunities for others, especially those who have or will build careers in computer science,” says Sabbah. “I’m honored to play a role in the development of the department and the people within it.”
This is the third endowed gift from Sabbah, a mathematics major who also earned his master’s degree and a PhD in computer science from Rochester. In 2019, he established the Sabbah Family Endowment Award, a bequest that will provide seed funding to faculty conducting the most promising research across the School of Arts & Sciences. In 2015, he created the Endowed Fund for Data Science. Additionally, he has provided vital current-use funding to support the strategic initiatives and immediate needs of the Hajim School.
Adds Michael Scott, the Arthur Gould Yates Professor of Engineering and chair of the computer science department, “Danny’s gift will significantly enhance our already strong undergraduate and graduate programs and will empower our faculty scholars and researchers. Their expertise and dedication have been the driving force behind our department’s 50 years of innovation and achievements.”
About Danny Sabbah
After graduating from Rochester, Sabbah followed the footsteps of his father, a longtime engineer at IBM. Sabbah retired from IBM in 2014, after more than 40 years of service, having risen from researcher and software developer to chief technology officer and general manager of various divisions within the company. During his career, Sabbah was responsible for creating IBM’s cloud platform and pioneering its move into open source in the late 1990s and early 2000s, well before it was commercially popular. Sabbah also played a key role in driving the company’s successful expansion into internet software. Today, Sabbah consults with private equity and venture capital firms around the world. He serves as a senior advisor for Bridge Growth LLC and was previously on the board of directors for Finalsite LLC. In 2023, Sabbah coauthored his first book, The Heart of Innovation: A Field Guide for Navigating Authentic Demand.
In addition to his three Rochester degrees, Sabbah also earned an executive education business degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery and former member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Sabbah is an active member of the Hajim School’s Dean’s Advisory Council, Arts, Sciences & Engineering’s National Council, and the University’s Campaign Planning Committee. He also volunteers with Rochester’s admissions and career services offices, on The Meliora Collective, and as a guest lecturer. Since 2008, he and his wife, Karen Dana Carlson, have been benefactor-level members of the George Eastman Circle, the University’s leadership annual giving society. He and Carlson have two children, Emily Sabbah-Taggart and Zachary Sabbah.
Computer science at Rochester
In 1974, the University of Rochester established the Department of Computer Science within the Hylan Building. Today, it is housed within Wegmans Hall. The department’s faculty are accomplished and have earned honors from prominent national and global organizations such as the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence; the Association for Computational Linguistics; and SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics.
Computer science is second only to biology as an undergraduate major, with approximately 150 students graduating each year. Additionally, on average, 70 PhD and 60 master’s students are enrolled on campus annually. Graduates gain a deep understanding of cutting-edge concepts and the benefits of taking an interdisciplinary approach with a quantitative focus. This equips them to solve complex problems and emerge as leaders in a fast-growing field.
Support academic excellence
Contact Derek Swanson, executive director of Hajim Advancement, to learn how you can support faculty, students, and academic excellence at the Hajim School. Find out more about the University’s Boundless Possibilities 2030 Strategic Plan, too, and steps being taken to help our faculty, students, and staff achieve success.
— Kristine Kappel Thompson, May 2024