School of Computing designates associate directors to focus on advancing key pillars of computing

The Boise State University School of Computing announced the appointment of three faculty members to key leadership roles that will guide its foundational pillars in fundamental computing, computing and society, and computing in the disciplines.

"It's very exciting to see the School of Computing's next phase take shape," Ira Burton, the school's director said. "I'm grateful to have such strong leaders guiding this work, each bringing expertise from different colleges across campus. This breadth of experience ensures that even more students will benefit from the school's impact, sooner and more broadly."

Computing in the Disciplines- Jodi Mead

Professor Jodi Mead has been a long-standing leader in advancing interdisciplinary computing at Boise State. With more than two decades of experience in computational and applied mathematics, she has taught a broad range of interdisciplinary courses and conducted pioneering research in inverse methods, data assimilation and uncertainty quantification. Her work has been applied to areas such as wildfire smoke transport, snow depth monitoring and geophysical imaging.

Mead's leadership experience includes serving as the inaugural co-director of the Computing Ph.D program and as Associate Dean in Residence of the Graduate College. Nationally, she serves as program manager at the National Science Foundation and internationally as a member of the Academic Council of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, helping forge global research partnerships that enrich Boise State's computing community.

Fundamental Computing - Edoardo Serra

Associate Professor of Computer Science and co-director of the Computing Ph.D. program, Edoard Serra, has been appointed Associate Director for Fundamental Computing.

His research spans artificial intelligence, machine learning and graph representation learning, with applications in cyber security, national security, chemistry and biology. In his new role, Serra will lead the strategic decision of the school's fundamental pillar, strengthening Boise State's national reputation in the core sciences and technologies that drive computing innovation.

He will focus on building faculty teams, expanding research collaborations with national laboratories and industry, and advancing the university's R1 research mission.

Computing and Society- Dazhi Yang

Professor of Educational Technology Dazhi Yang in the College of Education, with a joint appointment in the College of Engineering, will serve as Associate Director for the Computing and Society pillar.

With more than 20 years of interdisciplinary experience and research supported by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, Yang's work explores the intersection of technology, STEM education, and recent emphasis on AI in learning, computational thinking, and sustainability in engineering design. Her leadership will help guide the school's efforts to examine the societal impacts of computing, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, and connect research to community and industry needs.

Together Mead, Serra and Yang will strengthen the School of Computing's integrated approach to discovery, innovation and education at Boise State to advance the university's commitment to excellence and inclusion in computing research and practice.

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