Leo Irakliotis Named Dean of Nova Southeastern University’s Computer Science School

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – Leo Irakliotis, Ph.D., has been named dean of the Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences (GSCIS) at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). The announcement was made this week by NSU Chancellor Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D.

In his role, Irakliotis will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer of NSU’s computer science school. He will provide innovative vision and leadership and work to further the school’s development of educational programs, curriculum, and a diverse faculty and student body.

“Dr. Irakliotis has an impressive amount of experience in both the academic and entrepreneurial worlds of technology, computer science, data architecture and data mining,” Ferrero said. “We are confident that his background, expertise and innovative outlook fit perfectly with NSU’s goal of taking our computer science programs to the next level of academic excellence.”

Irakliotis joins NSU after building successful and sustainable professional and graduate programs at institutions such as MCI Telecommunications, the University of Chicago, the City Colleges of Chicago, IBM, GBI-China and CCC Information Services, Inc. His selection followed a national search in which several outstanding applicants competed for the appointment.

Most recently, he was a member of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Chicago where he served as the Director of the Professional Programs, a founding fellow of the Computation Institute, and associate chairman since 1997. Previously, he was an executive engineer in research and development for high-performance networking at MCI Telecommunications.

His research focuses on parallel database system implementation with high-density optical storage, data modeling and data mining techniques for high-frequency data, medical informatics, and technology and public policy issues. Irakliotis earned a M.S. degree in Physics from Miami University in Ohio and a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Colorado State University.

Irakliotis has also been a guest editor of Computer, the preeminent journal of computing, and is the founding chairman and editor of two major international conferences: Photonics in Computing in 1994 and 1995, and Critical Technologies for the Future of Computing in 2001. As a consultant he advised the City of Chicago on IT workforce training, worked with option traders to improve technology education, participated as an expert in patent litigation, counseled proprietary education groups, and represented the interests of the technology and scientific community to the U.S. Congress as a member of the Science Visit Days.
Irakliotis succeeds Edward Lieblein, Ph.D., who stepped down from his position in May 2009 after serving 16 years as dean of NSU’s computer science school. Lieblein has been named Dean Emeritus for the school.

Irakliotis will begin at NSU on February 1, 2010. For more information about NSU’s Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences please visit http://scis.nova.edu/.

Media Contact:
Andra Liwag, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309 (office), 954-873-8494 (cell), andrali@nova.edu