Biography

Vicki Hanson is Professor and Chair of Inclusive Technologies, School of Computing, University of Dundee, U.K. (since 2009), Distinguished Professor of Computing at Rochester Institute of Technology, U.S. (since 2013), and an IBM Research Staff Member Emeritus (since 2009).

Prior positions were Research Staff Member and Manager, IBM T. J. Watson Research Center (1986–2008), Research Associate, Haskins Laboratories, New Haven, CT (1980–1986), and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (1978–1980).

She is a Fellow of the ACM (2004), a Chartered Fellow of the BCS (2009), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2013).

Her research in human-computer interaction focuses on accessibility of technology for people with disabilities and the aging population. For this work, she has been honored with the Anita Borg “Woman of Vision Award for Social Impact” (2013), the ACM SIGCHI Social Impact Award (2008), and an IBM Corporate Award for Contributions to Accessibility (2009). She is currently leading work funded by Research Councils U.K.

Hanson serves as ACM Secretary-
Treasurer (2012–2014), as a
member of the ACM- W Europe
Executive Committee (2013–2015),
and on the SIG Governing Board
Executive Committee (2005–2014).

She is an ACM Distinguished Speaker, has served as Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ACM TACCESS (2006–2013), Associate Editor of ACM TWEB (since

2005), and member and Chair of multiple ACM Awards Committees (2006–present). She has served in conference organizing and program committee positions for several ACM conferences including SIGCHI, SIGACCESS, SIG WEB, and SIGPLAN (including ASSE TS General Chair 2002; CUU General Chair 2003; OOPSLA Treasurer 1993–1995, 1999, 2005;

Hypertext PC Co-Chair 2007; CHI Subcommittee Chair for Papers and Notes 2012, 2013; ECRC 2013;

ACM- W Europe womENcourage

2014 Treasurer).

She serves on the Royal Society of Edinburgh Fellows committee.

Hanson received her B.A. from the University of Colorado (Psychology, 1974) and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Oregon (Cognitive Psychology,

1976; 1978).

Statement

I am honored to have been asked to run for ACM Vice President. I have been a member and active ACM volunteer for more than two decades, co-founding a new Transactions, leading a SIG to viability, contributing to many ACM conferences, and serving on the ACM Executive Committee— first as SIG Governing Board Chair and now as ACM Secretary/ Treasurer. I also serve as one of the founding members of the ACM- W Europe Executive Committee. My experience in these varied positions has prepared me well for serving you, and ACM, as Vice President.

ACM has never had as much impact as it does now. Volunteers and professional staff serve a growing international community of researchers, practitioners, and students through a wide variety of conferences, publications, webinars, and educational resources. We can be rightly proud of this impact.

Staying impactful requires work.

Rapidly changing technical and
professional environments are
forcing a much-needed review
of how we provide value to our
members. We must explore new
models for our world-leading
Digital Library, addressing
needs for open access and the
inclusion of rich media and open
data. Our goal is the creation of a
broadly accessible and financially
sustainable library that will remain
the premier research archive in
computing. Practitioners, too, will
benefit from this, but we must
continue to create new offerings
tailored to their specific needs.
Given our expanding global
community, we must also develop
a strategy that encourages growth
in new regions while providing
clear benefits to existing members
able to participate in a truly
international organization. This
requires a better understanding
of diverse cultural, educational,
and professional contexts. Our
international conferences and
active regional affiliates are a start,
and our SIGs and regional affiliates
can help us connect with local
technical communities.
Finally, we must expand our
efforts to promote an inclusive
professional community. As
a researcher, volunteer, and
manager, I have been particularly
committed to this goal. Individuals
from diverse backgrounds must
be encouraged to enter the field
and supported as they develop
successful computing careers. We
need to listen well to all members,
those just starting out and those
with established careers, to
ensure ACM remains the leading
professional society in computing.
VICKI HANSON

Professor and Chair of Inclusive Technologies University of Dundee Dundee, Scotland U.K.

Distinguished Professor of Computing Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, N. Y.

U.S.

candidates for

VICE PRESIDENT (7/1/14–6/30/16)