Dear Badgers,
Summer brings a different cadence to our lives as faculty members. Typically, there is less classroom instruction and more emphasis on research and associated activities, including writing and delivering talks at conferences, writing proposals, working with graduate students, and trying to complete (or at least advance) long-neglected books and papers. We often find time for some recreation or even a vacation with family or friends. Summer is an exciting time and one that we anticipate eagerly!
This summer, we in UW–Madison CS have an extra reason to be excited: We are moving to Morgridge Hall! Our wonderful new building is almost ready for occupancy, and we have been busy preparing for the move—discarding books and papers (we can get so many things online these days) and packing the rest into boxes labeled with our new office numbers. So many people have made this move possible, and all deserve our thanks. I mention in particular the generous donors, whose support allowed Morgridge Hall to be built without state dollars. Thank you, donors! And all alumni and friends are welcome to visit us in our new abode!
Our faculty recruiting season wrapped up in May with six individuals accepting our offers to join as assistant professors, and one more person moving to CS from another department at UW-Madison. In all, fourteen new faculty have been hired over the past two years—the two most successful years of recruiting in our department’s history. We’re excited about the expertise and energy that these new colleagues are bringing to our research and teaching endeavors, and we look forward to helping them to develop their careers.
Since January we have been wrestling with enormous uncertainty, as the federal government’s attack on the US university system continues to gather steam. Changes are coming to every aspect of our professional lives, including the ways we fund our research and recruit and pay our graduate students. We in CS are in a better position than most. We are starting from a financially healthy position, and the importance of our discipline is recognized across the political spectrum. The years ahead will test our creativity and resilience. But I know my colleagues well and have every confidence that they will rise to the challenge, continuing to do research and teaching that advances the field of computer science and brings to fruition its potential to benefit society and improve lives.
After two years as department chair, the time has come for me to step down and embrace my role as a professor and researcher once more. I gave my best effort to the chair role, and much was accomplished in growing the department and putting it on a sound footing in organizational and financial respects. I’m deeply grateful to the many people who worked with me to make good things happen. Nothing could have been done without your help, advice, support, and expertise. I’m thrilled to welcome as my successor as department chair Paul Barford, the Carl de Boor Professor of Computer Sciences. Paul will be 100% dedicated to the role and will bring new ideas and fresh energy. I’m excited to see what he has in store for the department. Finally, I thank my colleagues on the faculty and staff and all who make UW-Madison Computer Sciences such a high-impact and all-around wonderful institution. This includes you, our alumni, whose interest and support play a key role in our success.
Thank you all, and On Wisconsin!
