Taskforce on Computing and Data Science

Taskforce on Computing and Data Science members

Andy Connolly, Associate Vice Provost for Data Science, Office of Research; eScience Director; and Professor, Astronomy, co-chair
Kathy Yelick, Vice Chancellor for Research and the Robert S. Pepper Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, UC Berkeley, co-chair
Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau, Director of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences; Special Advisor to the Provost on Computing; and the Grace Wahba professor and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Computer Sciences, School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dan Grossman, Professor and Vice Director, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, College of Engineering
Elizabeth Nance, Department Chair, Chemical Engineering; Steven R. and Connie R. Rogel Endowed Professor of Chemical Engineering; Associate Professor, Bioengineering; College of Engineering and Adjunct Associate Professor of Radiology, UW School of Medicine
Abel Rodriguez, Department Chair, Statistics, College of Arts & Sciences; Affiliate, eScience Institute and the Center for Statistics in the Social Sciences
Emma Spiro, Associate Professor, Information School; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering, College of Engineering; Data Science Fellow, eScience Institute
Peter Tarczy-Hornoch, Chief Data Officer, UW Medicine Information Technology Services;
Professor and Chair, Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education;
Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology; Executive Committee, UW Institute for Medical Data Sciences, School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor, Paul Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
TBA, External industry member/reviewer [executive in Seattle tech industry]

Charge letter to the Taskforce on Computing and Data Science

Dear Colleagues,

The University of Washington has a long and distinguished history of leadership in computing, data science, and artificial intelligence, playing a central role in shaping the evolution of these fields. Our success has been built on deep faculty expertise, collaborative research across disciplines, and close engagement with one of the world’s most dynamic technology ecosystems.

At the same time, computing and data science have become essential to nearly every domain of scholarship and practice across the University.

The landscape is changing rapidly. The accelerating pace of innovation, the emergence of generative AI, and the growing demand for data fluency in every sector of society all present new challenges and opportunities. UW must ensure that its structures, strategies, and investments keep pace with this moment—enabling us to lead not only in the core disciplines of computing, data science, and AI but also in their integration across our academic and public mission.

To this end, we are convening a Taskforce on Computing and Data Science to assess our current position, identify opportunities for growth and coordination, and recommend a strategic path forward that is grounded in analysis. The goal is to lead through the unique strengths of the University of Washington rather than to replicate what has been created elsewhere.

Charge to the Taskforce

The Taskforce is charged with developing an assessment and recommendations for advancing computing, data science, and AI at the University of Washington, both as core disciplines and as enablers across the academic enterprise. The work of the Taskforce will primarily focus on the Seattle campus, but opportunities for coordination and collaboration with the Bothell and Tacoma campuses should inform this process. Specifically, the Taskforce will:

Assess Current Strengths and Opportunities

Identify and document UW’s unique core strengths in computing, data science, and AI, including education and research.
Highlight areas with high potential to rise to national or global prominence in the near term, supported by clear evidence.
Consider the broad reach of these fields across the university.

Evaluate Institutional Readiness and Structural Effectiveness

Assess the extent to which UW’s current structures—academic, administrative, and organizational—are positioned to support and scale identified strengths and opportunities.
Identify limitations and barriers within the existing model that may hinder our opportunities, including:
- coordination across distributed academic and research strengths
- external engagement and advocacy, including with state and federal agencies, industry, and foundations
- new cross-disciplinary initiatives and partnerships
- student pathways across a spectrum of engagements in computing, data science, and AI

Explore and Assess Alternative Models

Identify and assess alteration to the current model and alternative organizational structures that could better support UW’s ambitions in computing, data science, and AI.
Draw from models both within computing and data science and from other domains, including but not limited to independent units, cross-University institutes/centers, and combinations thereof.
Identify benefits and costs of these models for UW, including their implications for existing units, faculty, students, and the broader UW mission.
Provide recommendations on how to adapt or adopt structural elements that would maximize UW’s ability to lead in this domain while aligning with our institutional culture and goals.

Deliverables

The Taskforce should produce a written report outlining findings, recommendations, and rationale to the President and Provost by June 5, 2026.

Composition and consultation

Taskforce membership represents a cross-section of UW’s academic and administrative leadership. In fulfilling this charge, the Taskforce is encouraged to engage widely with faculty, students, staff, external partners, and alumni to ensure diverse perspectives and broad ownership of the recommendations and to draw on reports from similar initiatives at other institutions and the UW AI Taskforce Reports.

[co-chair] appointed by the President and Provost
[co-chair] appointed by the President and Provost
[1 faculty] nominated by the Dean of College of Engineering
[1 faculty] nominated by the Dean of the iSchool
[1 faculty] nominated by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences [Natural Sciences Division]
[1 faculty] nominated by the Director of the Allen School for Computer Science and Engineering
[1 faculty] nominated by the Dean of the School of Medicine
[1 faculty external to the UW in relevant fields] nominated by the Deans and Directors and appointed by the President and Provost
[1 executive in Seattle tech industry] nominated by Corporate and Foundation Relations and appointed by the President and Provost

Marisa Nickle, Sr. Director for Strategy & Academic Initiatives, will support the work of the task force and serve as project manager.

Thank you for your commitment and careful attention to this vital work; I look forward to reviewing your recommendations.

Sincerely,

Tricia R. Serio
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor, Biochemistry

March 13, 2026