Professor of Computer Science and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering and Information Technology
As Associate Dean, Dr. desJardins focuses on faculty mentoring and development, student success, curriculum, and accreditation. Research focus is artificial intelligence (machine learning, multi-agent systems, decision making, and interactive AI) and CS education. Named UMBC Presidential Teaching Professor (2014-2017), A. Richard Newton Distinguished Educator (2017), UC Berkeley Distinguished Alumni in Computer Science (2018), Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery, American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow (2014-2015), and a UMBC Professor Not to Miss (2011). Received an NSF grant to build a community of CS educators and improve CS education at the high school level in Maryland and a Google CS4HS grant for a summer workshop for high school CS teachers. Participated in an NSF grant to develop a new introductory design experience for UMBC computing majors. Mentors a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students.