Microsoft adds new board member

Microsoft said on Monday that it is adding Harvey Mudd College President Maria Klawe to its board of directors.

Klawe, who previously worked for IBM Research, has also taught at Princeton University and the University of British Columbia focusing on computer science and engineering.

Klawe

(Credit: Microsoft)

"Maria has made significant research contributions to computer science and mathematics, and we are very fortunate to have her join Microsoft's board of directors," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said in a statement. "In particular, I think her close connection to university students and the way they shape computing trends will bring an important perspective to the board."

Klawe has also been active in efforts to attract more women to the technology field, having served on the board of the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology since its inception and as its chair from 2003-2008.

The addition of Klawe returns Microsoft's board to 10 members; longtime board member Jon Shirley stepped down last year. "The underrepresentation of women in the fields of science and engineering is one of the critical issues facing the computing industry," Klawe said. "Microsoft has been active and focused in helping to address this challenge, and I'm looking forward to helping the company continue to make progress on this important issue."

The software maker also announced a quarterly dividend of 13 cents per share. The dividend is payable June 18, to shareholders of record as of May 21. That dividend amount is the same as the company has had for each of the past two quarters.

[kmach844]

They laid off all of those people recently, but they had money to spend on hiring another executive. Go figure huh?

[ncalishome]

"The addition of Klawe returns Microsoft's board to 10 members; longtime board member Jon Shirley stepped down last year." Not exactly the same as hiring another executive now is it.

[mbenedict]

Board members are not executives.