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.