James Cooke Brown was an American mathematician and computer scientist, best known for his work in the fields of artificial intelligence and computer programming. He was a pioneer in the development of the programming language LISP, which is widely used in AI research. Brown's contributions helped shape the early landscape of computer science and education. In addition to his technical achievements, Brown was also an advocate for the use of computers in education. He founded the Computer Science Department at Humboldt State University and was involved in various educational initiatives aimed at integrating technology into learning. His efforts have had a lasting impact on both computer science and education.