Bohl was a pioneer in computing, succeeding in a male-dominated industry when few women had entered the field. Her first job in computing was as a software developer at Collins Radio in 1964. She was recruited to join IBM in the Bay Area (later known as Silicon Valley) in 1969.<\/p>\n
From early database design at IBM to senior executive leadership at Ingres and Dynasty, she advanced to positions of leadership in development and impacted the national and international marketplace, helping business leaders to understand the potential of the technology.<\/p>\n
Her career also includes 35 years of writing college textbooks and supporting materials on various aspects of computing that were adopted by universities, colleges and technical schools worldwide.\u202fSome texts were translated\u202finto German, Portuguese and Chinese.<\/p>\n
Beyond her influence in technology and computing, she is one of the university\u2019s most impactful advocates. But the news that she is receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Hung Family College of Engineering <\/a>at Commencement<\/a> next week still came as a humbling surprise, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it is a great honor,\u201d she said, recalling the phone call she received from then-President Andrew Jones. \u201cI didn’t know that many people knew about my life. I’m pleased to think that some of my history is known, recognized and appreciated.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n Education is the key \u00a0<\/p>\n As someone who grew up in a family of humble means, Bohl calls herself living proof of the doors that education can open. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI have two creeds: One is that education opens the door to opportunity and teamwork makes the dream work. And if I’m asked to talk somewhere, I find an opportunity to get those two points in.\u201d<\/p>\n Bohl and her twin sister, longtime Beach supporter Arline Walter<\/a>, were high school co-valedictorians. They both went on to Luther College, where they received teaching certificates in elementary education and taught at elementary schools for three years.<\/p>\n Arline continued to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, while Marilyn went to the University of Northern Iowa, where she received a bachelor\u2019s degree in mathematics.\u00a0<\/p>\n Marilyn began\u202fworking\u202fas a software developer\u202fat Collins Radio in 1964,\u202fand in 1968, joined IBM where she was\u202foften the only woman on a team or in a room. \u00a0<\/p>\n Growing up in Marble Rock, Iowa (population 600), Bohl could not have imagined a future career that would place her in meeting rooms with tech icons like Larry Ellison and Steve Ballmer and eventually pave the way for today\u2019s data-driven applications and, ultimately, cloud computing.<\/p>\n Her transformative gifts to what became Bohl Diamond at Blair Field<\/a>, the home of Long Beach State baseball, were instrumental in upgrades<\/a> to elevate the ballpark to a premier Division I facility. She is a Carillon Society<\/a> member, a former Long Beach State Foundation board member and was inducted in the Long Beach State Hall of Fame<\/a> in 2025.<\/p>\n Supporting the next generation is just what you do, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m just giving back and giving other people the opportunity,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Looking back on her career, and lifetime of faith and service, she said she wishes she could encourage others to support The Beach. No matter the amount, it all makes a difference.<\/p>\n And to Beach students who are pursuing their education: \u201cYou must be curious. You must keep your eyes open and if you see something that’s interesting, dare to pursue it. Dare to pursue it.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n The Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) is one of the honorary degrees conferred by the California State University system and awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to education, public\u202fservice\u202for the arts. At CSULB, such degrees are conferred at Commencement by the college granting the honor.\u00a0
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