I have long done research, teaching, and service in artificial intelligence, including machine learning and cognitive modeling. In recent years I have focused on the nexus of computational creativity and sustainability, notably place-based, conservation-oriented AI story telling. My current students are exploring the theory and practice of using and augmenting large language models in pursuit of these applications and others. I am keenly interested in broader impacts of CS research, and broadening participation, for which I think that computational creativity and sustainability have considerable drawing power. I served as an NSF Program Director overseeing AI and ML research funding, as well as contributing to sustainability efforts at NSF, for which I received a Director’s Award for excellence in program management. My experience at NSF is given on the CRA/CCC blog. Courses listed below include AI, computational creativity, computing and the environment, the Ethics of AI, Computation and Cognition, and a favorite service course on the theory of formal languages, automata, and computation, for which I am writing a Wikibook.

Office hours

Where: Sony building (1400 18th Ave S, 4th floor) Office A4034.
When:
- Tuesdays 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
- Thursdays 9:30 am to 11:00 am
- I will not hold office hours during VU academic year breaks (Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, MLK, Spring, Summer), and perhaps very occasionally because of illness or a conflict (which I will announce here).
I will be on professional travel ~~February 2-4~~, ~~February 8-10,~~ ~~February 20-22~~, ~~and~~ ~~March 19 – 21, and March 24-28, 2024~~ and will not have office hours.

Undergraduate Advising

Undergraduate advising of all CS minors, and of CS Second majors who are in A&S, Blair, and Peabody. Monday, April 22 will be my last day as the advisor for CS second majors and CS minors.