The Network Newsletter (Fall 2021)

From the Department Head

Fall is always an exciting time for our department as we get to welcome new students, faculty, and staff. And this Fall is especially meaningful as we are mostly back in-person after a uniquely challenging time for all!

At our August Department Retreat we had the chance to congratulate and thank Professors Steve Harrison and Deborah Tatar for their long tenure with the department—we wish them well as they transition to retirement. We also welcomed an exciting cohort of new faculty colleagues (see the article below for details).

We are slowly starting to re-engage with alumni in person, while continuing to offer a steady stream of on-line touch points as well. Our Alumni Advisory Board gathered again just last week, students in a section of the Senior Seminar are enjoying getting to know a group of alumni entrepreneurs, and we look forward to welcoming alumni back to campus for homecoming weekend and our Torgersen Open House. Hope to see many of you there. Make sure we have your up to date contact information so you don't miss out on events like these.

Thank you for your interest and support for your department!

Cal Ribbens
Department Head

Student apps that make the grade

What does a tennis professional, The Marching Virginias, and the Virginia Tech College of Engineering have in common? Read more to find out >>

On their final home stretch, graduate students said their fellowships made all the difference

Alumnus and philanthropist Greg Lavender (master's '88, doctorate '93) endowed the first two Ph.D. fellowships in the Department of Computer Science earlier this year to honor his academic mentors, former department heads Richard Nance and Dennis Kafura. See the impact on the first two recipients >>

Alumna Jamika Burge Receives Richard A. Tapia Award

The Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in Information Technology (CMD-IT) has honored Virginia Tech computer science alumna Jamika Burge ('07, PhD) with the 2021 Richard A. Tapia Achievement Award for Scientific Scholarship, Civic Science and Diversifying Computing. Learn more about Jamika >>

Department welcomes 11 new faculty members for academic year

With the addition of 11 new faculty members for the 2021-22 academic year, the department now sits at 70 faculty members at campuses in Blacksburg and the greater Washington, D.C., metro area. Meet the faculty >>

Stephen Edwards Receives Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science Education Award

The Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) of the Association for Computing Machinery has named Stephen Edwards, professor and the associate department head for undergraduate studies in the Department of Computer Science, as the 2021 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science Education Award. Learn his reaction to this honor >>

Mark Your Calendar

• Computer Science in Torgersen Hall Open House
  Friday, October 15, 2021 | 10:00am - 3:00pm
  Register to Attend
  
  See our new dedicated tutoring and teaching assistant spaces, lab spaces, and collaborative learning center. Tours will be led by our computer science student ambassadors. Stick around after your tour for food, swag, and photos!
  
  
• Homecoming Tailgate
  Saturday, October 16, 2021 | 11:30am-2:30pm
  Register to Attend
  
  The department will have a table at the Homecoming Tailgate with students from the Diggeridoos team! Kick off game day at the Holtzman Alumni Center with food, drinks, games, music, and groups from across campus. Cost is $10 in advance and $15 day-of.
  
  
• Virtual Entrepreneurship Panel
  Wednesday, November 3, 2021 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm
  Register to Attend
  
  Join us for a virtual panel of entrepreneurial alumni that have recently come back to campus both in-person and virtually to speak to our students. Panelists will dive into how they secured funding, the fear of failure, and much more!

Other Virtual Opportunities

• Hokie Mentorship Connect: Join our group, Computer Science & Information Technology; a great place to interact with students in our field who are requesting advice and mentorship.
• Nominate Alumni: Alumni of the Department of Computer Science are eligible for department and college awards. You're invited to nominate a fellow alumnus or alumna by filling out this form.
• Join the CS alumni community through our Facebook group!

Gifts help our students learn

• To make the most immediate and flexible impact on students, as well as the department's growth and excellence, make a gift to the Computer Science Department Annual Fund.
• The newly created Barbara Ryder Excellence Fund focuses specifically on supporting diversity and inclusion in the Department of Computer Science. Make a gift to the Barbara G. Ryder Fund for Excellence in Computer Science.
• Endowed scholarships help support outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in Computer Science:
  • Give to the CS Investment in Excellence fund to support undergraduates in computer science
  • Give to the Terry Arthur Scholarship fund to support undergraduates in computer science
  • Give to the Dennis G. Kafura Graduate Fellowship fund to support PhD students in CS
  • Give to the Richard E. Nance Graduate Fellowship fund to support PhD students in CS

Keep in touch

We love to hear from our Computer Science (CS) alumni! Contact Hayley Roulston, alumni relations coordinator, for more ways to get involved with the department.

To better stay connected with the department, visit our website to find our social media handles, groups to join, and how to update your information.