Dr. Shabnam Sodagari is an associate professor and the graduate program director of Computer Engineering and Computer Science (CECS). She received her PhD degree from Penn State (Pennsylvania State University). Her current research interests include quantum computing, applications of data science, AI, and machine learning in various domains, such as health, education, etc. She is a senior member of IEEE and has several publications at impactful journals and flagship conferences. She led the development and launch of the department's accelerated BS/MS degree program, expanding opportunities for students to complete both degrees on an accelerated path. She was instrumental in launching a new interdisciplinary undergraduate degree in Applied Data Science (ADS), spanning the Colleges of Engineering, Health and Human Services, and Liberal Arts.