After joining DePaul in 1981 and co-founding the Department of Computer Science, David Miller will step down as dean for the College of Computing and Digital Media at the end of the 2021-22 academic year. (Image courtesy of David Miller)
On Friday, Sept. 10, David Miller announced he will step down as dean for the College of Computing and Digital Media at the end of the 2021-22 academic year.A founding member of the Department of Computer Science, Miller joined DePaul as an assistant professor 40 years ago. His innovative vision for the future of computer science led the department to become a school and eventually the nationally recognized college it is today.
The College of Computing and Digital Media originated as the Department of Computer Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1981. Helmut Epp, former provost and now professor emeritus, was the department's founding chair and recruited Miller to join DePaul.
In 1995, DePaul elevated the department to a school, creating the School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems, or CTI. Miller served as the school's first associate dean and eventually as interim dean when Epp became provost. In 2007, DePaul named Miller dean for the school.
“I came to DePaul because Helmut painted a very convincing picture of what computer science would become at this university," Miller said in the press release announcing his appointment as dean. “We have far exceeded anything that was imagined in those days."
Under Miller's leadership, the school continued to excel.
CTI became the College of Computing and Digital Media, or CDM, in 2008. Miller oversaw the organization of CDM into three schools: Cinematic Arts, Computing and Design. The college created numerous graduate and undergraduate degree programs to meet student and workplace needs. Examples include programs in data science, screenwriting and cyber-physical systems engineering. Multiple programs are regularly ranked among the top in the nation, including film, game design, animation and graphic design. Enrollment in the college more than doubled.
“It has been amazing to watch our college grow," Miller says. “We now have more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, well over 20,000 college alumni, and a catalog of nationally ranked programs."
Also during Miller's tenure as dean, CDM established multiple partnerships to enhance hands-on learning opportunities for DePaul students. DePaul Cinespace Studios provides students with film and television production experience, learning alongside network television and Hollywood motion picture professionals filming in the city. Students have access to Chicago's technology startup community through memberships with the business incubators 1871 and 2112. In collaboration with The Second City, DePaul's School of Cinematic Arts offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in comedy filmmaking.
In addition to his leadership roles in CDM, Miller served as interim provost for the 2014-15 academic year.
“David's incredible knowledge and foresight led DePaul to become home to the nationally recognized College of Computing and Digital Media," Provost Salma Ghanem says. “His leadership has benefited countless students who are now making a real impact in computer science, film and design. I'm grateful for everything he has done for DePaul."
The university will share more information about the search for the college's next dean when it is available.