UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Computing Research Association (CRA) has selected Shomir Wilson, assistant professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), to participate in the new Future CRA Leaders Program.

The CRA aims to unite academia, industry and government to advance computing research, according to its website. This new leadership initiative was created to attract researchers who will carry computer science research into the future. The College of IST is a member of the CRA. 

“Shomir continuously demonstrates the potential to be a leader in the field of computing research,” said Andrea Tapia, dean of the College of IST, who nominated Wilson. “CRA received nearly four times more nominations than it could accommodate, and Shomir’s selection is notable and well-deserved. We are confident that his participation in this program will only enhance the incredible work he has been doing in IST.”

As part of the program’s inaugural cohort, Wilson — who has been promoted to associate professor, effective July 1 — will attend the 2024 CRA Conference to be held July 23-25 in Snowboard, Utah. The theme of this year’s conference is generative AI, “a timely topic that cuts across the multiple constituencies that the CRA Conference serves,” according to a conference press release. The invitation-only event is usually limited to leaders from CRA member institutions, including deans of computing schools and leaders from U.S. industrial and government computing research laboratories and centers. As an attendee, Wilson will have the opportunity to network with these leaders and present a lightning talk on a topic of his choice during a special conference session.

“I'm really glad to be selected for this program,” Wilson said. “And I'm looking forward to some great conversations at the conference with computing leaders and with the others in my cohort.”