PResiDent
(7/1/10 – 6/30/12)
Joseph a. Konstan
Professor of computer science and engineering
university of minnesota
minneapolis, mn, usa
Biography
education
A.B. (1987) from Harvard College;
M.S. (1990) and Ph.D. (1993) from
the University of California, Berkeley; all in Computer Science. Dissertation Topic: User Interface Toolkit
Architecture (event processing,
geometry management, data propagation). Advisor: Larry Rowe.
employment
McKnight Distinguished University Professor and Associate Head,
Department of Computer Science
and Engineering, University of
Minnesota. Previously, Assistant
Professor (1993–1999), Associate
Professor (1999–2005), Professor
(2005–). Co-Founder and Consulting Scientist, Net Perceptions, Inc.
(1996–2000).
Professional interests
Human-Computer Interaction,
Software Tools to Support Online
Community, Use of Internet to Promote Public Health (HIV Prevention, Medication Adherence).
honors/awards/achievements
ACM Fellow (2008), ACM Distinguished Scientist (2006), IEEE
Distinguished Visitor (2003–2005),
ACM Distinguished Lecturer
(1997–2006). University awards:
Distinguished Professorship,
Distinguished Faculty Mentor (for
mentoring students from underrepresented minority groups), Taylor
Career Development award (
contributions to teaching). co-Author
of one book, 93 peer-reviewed
conference and journal papers.
Holds 6 U.S. Patents. Awarded 16
NSF grants ( 8 as PI), 11 NIH Grants
(all as co-Investigator), and 9 other
government and industry grants.
Created 6 new academic courses.
Advised/co-Advised students to 8
Ph.D. degrees and 52 MS degrees.
acm activities
ACM Council (2006–2008,
2009–2011). SIG Governing Board:
Chair (2006-2008), VC Operations
(2004–2006). Membership Services
Board: Vice Chair (2004–2006).
siG activities
SIGCHI: President (2003–2006),
Bulletin Editor (1999–2003),
Executive Committee (1999–2009).
SIGMultimedia Executive
Committee (1999–2007). Conference General Chair: UIS T 2003,
RecSys 2007. Various program committees, doctorial symposia, etc.
other Professional/education
organizations
Federal Demonstration Partner-
ship (partnership of universities
and U. S. government agencies
focused on reducing administrative
burden associated with govern-
ment grants): U of M faculty rep-
resentative (2002–2007), alternate
(2007–2010); elected Faculty Chair
and overall vice-Chair of FDP
(2005–2007).
acm election ballot
statement
I am proud to be a member of and a
volunteer for ACM, and I am deeply
honored by this nomination; I have
found my time volunteering for
ACM to be immensely rewarding,
and I am grateful for the trust of
the nominating committee in putting my name forward for ACM’s
Presidency.
ACM is a healthy and strong
society. Our publications and conferences are leading venues for
the advancement of computing.
Our digital library has become the
resource of record for computing
literature. And our work on computing education and professional
development are key investments
into the future of our field.
As a healthy organization, we
are not standing still. Recent
improvements include not only
the new CACM and enhancements
to the Professional Development
Center, but also less visible but
equally important initiatives in
China, India, and Europe, efforts to
improve our ability to engage and
support women in computing, and
efforts to speed our responsiveness
to new subareas within computing.
More challenges face us—both
those brought from outside and
those of our own making. As political pressure for professional certification builds, we must continue to
explore our position in this debate
and our role if such certification
comes to pass. We have an obligation both to our members and to
the field to oppose “certification”
that bears no relationship to actual
ability, and to provide meaningful
continuing professional education. Economic and environmental
realities force us to confront issues
about the future of conferences—
how can we maintain the essential
quality of experience while expanding access?
We have other issues I also hope
to take on, supported by both our
volunteers and ACM’s outstanding
professional staff. We must finish
the process of reinventing ACM’s
local activities program, ensuring
we understand what local support
our members want and need, and
providing them with the opportunities to engage with each other
and deploy ACM’s resources at a
local level. We also must continue
to improve our presence outside
North America. We must build on
our efforts in Europe and Asia to
ensure that ACM has a friendly,
capable, local face to present to
its members worldwide. Third, we
must do a better job on inreach—
being ready to respond to our members, our conference attendees, and
our visitors online with useful and
timely information.
But most of all, we must continue
to do well what we already do well.
As the face of computing changes
from year to year, the importance of
our efforts to support research, professional practice, and education
become ever more important. We
must build on our strengths and
continue to build new strengths.