Richard Cyert Collection

Richard M. Cyert (1921-1998) acted as President of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) from 1972 to 1990, was an active member of CMU’s Graduate School of Industrial Administration, and a recognized pioneer in management theories of the firm. His influence on CMU extends beyond his years as university president. As President, Cyert led the university to fiscal surplus and increased the university’s national prominence in the areas of computer science. Following his presidency, Cyert remained with CMU as both a professor and a dean of CMU’s Graduate School of Industrial Administration.

Cyert authored several books, including the canonical Theory of the Firm, and over one hundred academic articles on management theory and economics. His expertise brought him into collaboration with leaders in the fields of economics, management, and computer science. Cyert was also involved with an assortment of Pittsburgh institutions, including notables such as the Pittsburgh Pirates, the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, and the Western Pennsylvania Historical Society.

The dedication of Cyert Hall on CMU campus in 1993 reflects the recognition of his achievements and the breadth of his stature, as ceremonies included respected colleagues and frequent collaborators Morris DeGroot and Nobel Prize winner Herbert M. Cyert. Cyert’s death in 1998 followed a long battle with cancer and prompted recognition of his contributions through a memorial service at CMU as well as the creation of the Richard M. Cyert Chair of Molecular Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.