Dr. Marian Croak.
Pioneering figure in the field of Voice over IP (VoIP)
Alma mater Princeton University
University of Southern California
Employer(s) Google
AT&T
Bell Labs
Dr. Marian Rogers Croak currently serves as a distinguished technologist, spearheading innovation at Goggle technology company. With her remarkable career spanning over three decades, Dr. Croak has accumulated an impressive portfolio of more than 200 patents, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the field of telecommunications and technology. In 2013, Dr. Marian Rogers Croak was inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame for her remarkable contributions. More recently, in 2022, she earned induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for her groundbreaking patent on VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Technology. This achievement, shared with Patricia Bath, makes her one of the first two Black women to receive this prestigious honor. Her invention revolutionized communication by enabling users to make calls over the internet, a development that has become indispensable for remote work and conferencing in today’s world.
Dr. Marian Rogers Croak, born on May 14, 1955, in New York City, emerged as a pioneer in the realm of Voice over IP (VoIP) technology, revolutionizing communication systems worldwide. Encouraged by her father’s gift of a home chemistry set, she embarked on a STEM career journey that would redefine telecommunications. Graduating from Princeton University in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree and obtaining her Ph.D. specializing in Quantitative Analysis and Psychology from the University of Southern California in 1982, she laid the foundation for her groundbreaking work. Joining AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1982, Croak dedicated over three decades to the relentless pursuit of innovation.
Her contributions to the field are monumental, boasting an impressive portfolio of over 200 patents, a significant portion of which revolutionized VoIP technology. Among her most notable achievements are the development of text-to-vote, initially deployed for the groundbreaking reality show American Idol, and text-to-donate campaigns, facilitating charitable giving through digital platforms.
In recognition of her groundbreaking work, Dr. Croak was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2022 for her patent on VoIP Technology (U.S. Patent No. 7,599,359) – a method and apparatus for monitoring end-to-end performance in a network. This technology underpins the reliability and ubiquity of VoIP in modern communication networks, powering remote work, conferencing, and personal communications globally.
Her impact extends beyond patents, as evidenced by her invention of text-based donation systems (U.S. Patent 7,715,368), developed alongside co-inventor Hossein Eslambolchi in 2005. This innovation enables networks to facilitate charitable contributions seamlessly, providing crucial support to philanthropic endeavors.
Dr. Croak’s influence reverberates throughout the technological landscape, shaping the way we communicate daily. The platforms we rely on – FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, and Google Voice – owe much of their functionality to her groundbreaking contributions.
Her accomplishments have garnered widespread recognition, including the prestigious Edison Patent Awards in 2013 and 2014. Currently serving on the Corporate Advisory Board for the Viterbi School of Engineering at her alma mater, the University of Southern California, Dr. Croak remains dedicated to fostering innovation and empowering future generations of engineers.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Croak is deeply engaged in various philanthropic initiatives and has served on the boards of esteemed organizations such as the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, Catalyst, the Holocaust and Human Rights Museum (New Jersey), and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering.
As a mother of three grown children, Dr. Marian Rogers Croak’s legacy transcends her groundbreaking inventions, embodying a commitment to innovation, social responsibility, and the advancement of technology for the betterment of society.