Connected Computing Task Force

Vanderbilt has begun work to establish the College of Connected Computing, dedicated to computer science, AI, data science and related fields. In addition to meeting the growing demand for degrees in technological fields and advancing research in rapidly evolving, computing-related disciplines, the new, interdisciplinary college will collaborate with all of Vanderbilt’s schools and colleges to advance breakthrough discoveries and strengthen computing education through a “computing for all” approach.  

Krish Roy, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of the School of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor, is chairing the task force.

Committee Objectives 

  • Identify the College of Connected Computing’s “rights to win” 
  • Analyze comparative colleges and identify Vanderbilt’s distinctives and advantages 
  • Identify essential characteristics of the college’s inaugural dean 
  • Inform recruiting pipelines for student, faculty and staff 
  • Establish a working mission statement, core values and pedagogical frameworks 
  • Identify opportunities for corporate partnerships, hiring and innovation/start-up opportunities 

Suggestions and Feedback

Share your questions and suggestions for the task force.

FAQ

  • Why is Vanderbilt creating the College of Connected Computing?

    Of all the factors shaping society, few are more influential than the rapid emergence of advanced computing, AI and data science. To continue to carry out the university's mission, prepare all of Vanderbilt's students for their careers and advance research across the university, Vanderbilt must contribute even more to the study, understanding and innovative application of these fast-changing disciplines. The aim is to make Vanderbilt a global leader in these fields, ensuring the university's continued academic excellence and capacity for world-changing innovation.

  • What will implementation look like?

    Many of the specific details about the college—including its departments, degree programs and research infrastructure—will be informed by the recommendations of a university-wide task force on connected computing composed of faculty from across the university.

  • When will the college's first dean be appointed?

    The College of Connected Computing will be led by a new dean who will report to Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver and School of Engineering Dean Krishnendu “Krish” Roy. An international search for the college’s dean is scheduled to begin in late August.

  • When will you begin recruiting faculty?

    Recruiting of additional faculty will begin in the coming months.

  • I am a current School of Engineering student. How will this affect me?

    The creation of the College of Connected Computing will not negatively impact the requirements, time to completion, or quality of any major that is moved to the new college. If you are currently enrolled in a major that ultimately becomes housed in the new school, you will have uninterrupted access to the same level of world-class faculty and opportunities within the major you have now.

    We expect the new interdisciplinary college will strengthen education in computing for all students, regardless of major or home college or school.

    As we go through this exciting change, every decision is being informed by best practice with the intention of improving the educational experience for students. More specifics will be communicated directly to School of Engineering students in the coming months.

     

  • How will this new college connect to other areas of the university?

    The new, interdisciplinary college will collaborate with all of Vanderbilt’s schools and colleges to advance breakthrough discoveries and strengthen computing education through a “computing for all” approach.  

  • I’m a Vanderbilt community member. How can I learn more and offer thoughts?

    Members of the Vanderbilt community are encouraged to share suggestions and questions to the task force by filling out this form. 

Task Force Membership

Chair

Krish Roy, Bruce and Bridget Evans Dean of Engineering, University Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology; and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Members

Douglas Adams
Vice Dean of Engineering
Daniel F. Flowers Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Secondary appointment in Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Affiliate, VINSE

Hiba Baroud
Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
James and Alice B. Clark Foundation Faculty Fellow
Associate Professor of Computer Science (secondary)
Faculty Affiliate, VECTOR, Data Science Institute

Gautam Biswas
Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Computer Science
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (secondary)
Professor of Engineering Management (secondary)
Senior Research Scientist, ISIS
Faculty Affiliate, Data Science Institute

Erin Calipari
Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Secondary appointments in Molecular Physiology & Biophysics and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences (Secondary)
Director, Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research
Faculty Affiliate, Vanderbilt Brain Institute

Laurie Cutting
Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Special Education
Secondary appointments in Psychology & Human Development, Radiology, and Pediatrics
Associate Director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center
Faculty Affiliate, Vanderbilt Brain Institute

Benoit Dawant
Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor and incoming Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Director and Steering Committee Chair, Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery & Engineering

Cassy Dorff 
Assistant Professor of Computer Science 
Faculty Affiliate, Data Science Institute 

Abhishek Dubey
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Secondary appointment in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Director, SCOPE lab at ISIS
Faculty Affiliate, Institute for Software Integrated Systems and Data Science Institute

Bennett Landman
Stevenson Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Secondary appointments in Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Biomedical Informatics, and Neurology
Faculty Affiliate, Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering (VISE), Vanderbilt Brian Institute , Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Institute of Image Science (VUIIS), Data Science Institute

Ken S. Lau
Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
Professor of Surgery

Dan Margalit 
Stevenson Chair in Mathematics 
Chair of the Department of Mathematics 

Matthew Matheny
Professor of Biomedical Informatics
Secondary appointments in Biostatistics and Medicine
Director, Center for Improving the Public’s Health through Informatics

Sandeep Neema
Professor of Computer Science
Secondary appointment in Electrical and Computer Engineering
Chair of the Executive Council, Institute for Software Integrated Systems

Ipek Oguz
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Secondary appointments in Biomedical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering
Faculty Affiliate, Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering (VISE)

J.B. Ruhl
David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair in Law
Director, Program on Law and Innovation
Co-Director, Energy, Environment and Land Use Program
Faculty Affiliate, Data Science Institute

Jesse Spencer-Smith
Professor of the Practice of Computer Science
Interim Director and Chief Data Scientist, Data Science Institute

Jonathan Sprinkle
Professor of Computer Science
Secondary appointments in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Civil & Environmental Engineering
Faculty Affiliate, Institute for Software Integrated Systems

Yuankai (Kenny) Tao
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Secondary appointment in Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
Faculty Affiliates, Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery & Engineering

Holly Tucker
Mellon Foundation Chair in the Humanities and Professor of French
Director, Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities

Kalman Varga
Professor of Physics & Astronomy
Director, Minor in Scientific Computing
Faculty Affiliate, VINSE

Steven Wernke
Associate Professor and Chair of the department of Anthropology
Director, Vanderbilt Initiative for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Research
Faculty Affiliate, Data Science Institute

Jules White
Professor of Computer Science
Professor of Biomedical Informatics (secondary)
Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Generative AI in Education and Enterprise Solutions
Faculty Affiliate, Institute for Software Integrated Systems, Data Science Institute

Dan Work
Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professor of Computer Science (secondary)
Faculty Affiliate, VECTOR, Institute for Software Integrated Systems, Data Science Institute,

Tracey George
ex officio
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education
Charles B. Cox III and Lucy D. Cox Family Chair in Law and Liberty
Secondary appointment in Political Science

Tiffiny Tung
Ex officio
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in Anthropology