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)