Head of UA Computer Science Named Fellow by Accreditation Board

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A University of Alabama professor was recognized as a Fellow of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board, the lead society for accreditation of degree programs in computer science, information systems, software engineering and information technology.

Dr. David Cordes, head of the department of computer science and director of the Freshman Engineering Program, received the award at the annual meeting of the Computer Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology in July.

The award is given in recognition of individuals who have given sustained, quality service to the computing profession and to computing education through the activities of CSAB.

Founded in 1984, CSAB has responsibility for the development of accreditation criteria and for the selection, training and assignment of program evaluators within ABET, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied science, computing, engineering and engineering technology.

Cordes began his accreditation activities as a program evaluator for CSAB in 1997. In 2006, he became a CAC commission member, and in 2013, he became chair of the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission. In addition to his service to CSAB and ABET, Cordes has served a six-year term on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society’s Educational Activities Board and also served on an IEEE-CS Task Force on Excellence in Undergraduate Education.

Cordes joined the UA College of Engineering in 1988. He has served as department head for computer science since 1997 and director of the Freshman Engineering Program since 2007.  He is a senior member of IEEE and also a senior member of ACM, the two professional societies for computing.

There are 38 CSAB Fellows, and two are professors at UA. Besides Cordes, Dr. Allen Parrish, professor of computer science, was named a Fellow in 2013. Parrish is also the director of the Center for Advanced Public Safety and an associate vice president for research.