Janet Perna

Janet Perna is a computer scientist known for her work in coordinating IBM's work in the field of databases.

Education and career
Perna grew up in Poughkeepsie, New York. She graduated with a degree in mathematics from SUNY Oneonta in 1970, and started teaching mathematics. In 1974 she moved to California and got a job at IBM as a programmer. She worked first in San Jose, and then moved to IBM's Santa Teresa Laboratory. She later moved to the data management division, and then the information management group. Projects she worked on included preparing the IBM Db2 for public release, and encouraging IBM's 2001 purchase of the database company Informix Corporation. By 2001 she was the most senior female executive at IBM.

After 31 years at IBM, she decided to retire in 2005.

Honors and awards
During her time at IBM, Janet was inducted into the Women In Technology International Hall of Fame, was recognized by Information Week as one of the nation's "Top 10 Women in IT," and included among the thinkers and innovators on Sm@rt Partner's list of "50 Smartest People".

Perna received an honorary degree from State University of New York at Oneonta in 2012.

In 2018, SUNY Oneota re-named a building the "Janet R. Perna Science Building".