announcements – Seidenberg School News

Meet the Seidenberg School Department Chairs

The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University contains two departments, the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Information Technology.

We are pleased to announce that, following in the impressive footsteps of our previous department chairs, Dr. Li-Chiou Chen and Dr. Christelle Scharff, new department chairs have recently been appointed to the roles.

Computer Science Department

Anthony Joseph, PhD
Co-Chair

Dr. Anthony Joseph, Professor of Computer Science at Pace University, holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Electrical Engineering with specialization in digital signal processing and has worked in both industry and academia for over 35 years. He has supervised many projects and master’s theses. He has taught in the public primary school system in the Caribbean and the secondary and post-secondary educational systems in the USA. Dr. Joseph has provided numerous presentations to educators and public and private sector employees on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and careers in such fields as engineering, computer science, and cybersecurity in the context of the national and global economy. He is active in the high school sphere and is a longstanding advisory board member on two NYC public high schools’ New York State approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Moreover, he counsels and advises high-ranking officials in both the public and private sectors. His research interests include digital signal processing, neural networks and deep learning, modeling and forecasting, data compression, cybersecurity and digital forensics, teamwork, innovation and entrepreneurship, and teaching and learning.

Dr. Joseph’s motto:

Teaching is more than mastering content and learning is more than reading and doing; they both require commitment and metacognition. Let’s meet students where they are and groom them into what they hope to become.

Lixin Tao, PhD
Co-Chair

Dr. Lixin Tao is a tenured professor and Co-Chair of the Computer Science Department of Pace University in New York. He received his PhD in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988, and conducted computer science research and teaching with Concordia University in Montreal for 13 years before he joined Pace University in 2001. His research interest includes cloud computing, internet and web computing, intelligent systems, software engineering, cybersecurity, parallel and distributed computing, and combinatorial optimization. He has published over 300 original papers in refereed international journals and conference proceedings. He is an IEEE senior member, and national ABET evaluator for computer science programs.

Quote from Dr. Tao:

We aim at bringing out the best from our students’ passion and initiatives in studying advanced computing technologies, and awarding them with the best career opportunities.

Information Technology Department

Namchul Shin, PhD
Chair

Namchul Shin is Professor of Information Systems and Department Chair in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Pace University. He received his Ph.D. in Management (specialization in MIS) from the University of California at Irvine. His current research interests focus on the areas of innovation, IT value, organizational impacts of IT, and open data. His work has been published in journals such as Decision Support Systems, Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, European Journal of Information Systems, Industry and Innovation, International Journal of Information Management, Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, Nature, and Science, among other journals. He is associate editor of the Journal of Electronic Commerce Research and a member of the editorial board of Business Process Management Journal. He has served the Office of the Provost as a faculty fellow from 2012 to 2014 and is a faculty fellow at the Wilson Center at Pace University.

Quote from Dr. Shin:

We are living in a time period termed the fourth industrial revolution (so-called Industry 4.0), which is characterized by emerging technologies, such as AI, IoT, the Cloud, Blockchain, and advanced data analytics. These technologies enable digital innovation and transformation, that may help address the economic and social challenges emerging today. IT Department of Seidenberg School supports students by helping them learn the fundamentals of IS/IT, with the balance of learning theories and having hands-on experience, to apply theories to practice. We support students to build up knowledge and capabilities to innovate using emerging technologies to create value for the society. We are student-centered and open for helping students learn.

Please join us in welcoming our new Department Chairs! We are excited to see where their leadership takes the Seidenberg School over the coming semesters.

Celebrating the life and passions of Dr. Jean Coppola

We are deeply saddened to share that our much loved Pace community member, professor of information technology, and friend, Jean Coppola, passed away on Sunday October 29th, 2017.

As an integral part of our community, Jean leaves an incredible legacy behind: the creation and management of the WestchesterSMART Mobile App Development Bowl, which ran for three consecutive years with increasing attendance and success; her outstanding work in her life’s passion of gerontechnology, as a founding member of the Pace University Gerontechnology Program, through the mobile app contest, and through the classes she taught; the passion she instilled in her students; her incredible baking skills; her prowess on the softball field; her choir leadership; as a board member for her alma mater St Francis Prep, and so much more.

One year ago, Jean was recognized by the Westchester County Association for the second time as she received a Women in Tech Award. A month after that, she was honored at Pace for an astounding 30 years of service to the University, our students, and our greater community.

Jean has been a powerhouse in the field of technology, appearing in Westchester Magazine just this summer to discuss the critical issue of cybersecurity, an issue that is “not going to go away.”

Jean in her element wearing her famous red suit.

She has been known around Pace for being one of the sharpest dressed faculty members on campus. As recognizable for her suits as for her intelligence and creativity, Jean always made an impression whether in front of a class of students or interviewing for any one of the international publications that featured her.

And, thanks to Jean’s passion and determination to share her love of technology in the classroom, her teaching, leadership, and memory will live on in the thousands of students and colleagues she met over the years.

Here are some of the unique ways Jean instilled user experience design and empathy in her students:

Students experienced the challenges that older people might experience in their everyday lives.

This gave them the ability to create apps with the perspective of the user in mind.

Even if it was completely different from their own.

Students learned about living with visual impairment and its challenges when combined with technology.

Jean Coppola taught these and many more memorable lessons.

Jean, you will be greatly missed by all of us at Seidenberg.

Jonathan Hill appointed Dean of Seidenberg School

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Jonathan Hill has been appointed as the Dean of the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems!

Dr. Hill has been a part of the Pace community since 2003, and has worked relentlessly to elevate the school’s reputation within the NYC community and far beyond. He is known among faculty, staff, and students for his dedication to the school and his determination to see each and every member of the community succeed.

The formal announcement of Dr. Hill’s new appointment was made by Pace University President, Stephen Friedman, on Monday June 20.

Jonathan Hill’s dedication, leadership, vision, record of achievement, and management skills make him the right person to lead the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems to new heights of excellence and reputation.

Stephen Friedman, Pace University President

Countless jobs and internships for our students have been won through Dr. Hill’s tireless cultivation of relationships with government and corporate programs, which have also resulted in many research opportunities for our faculty and students.

In the academic year 2015-16, Dr. Hill was appointed Interim Dean and worked to grow the school’s student enrollment – and grow it did, exponentially.

We are excited to see what the coming years bring with DEAN HILL at the helm – please join us in extending heartfelt congratulations on a very deserving appointment!