News
College of Computing announces new department chairs for the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies
April 29, 2025
The College of Computing at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Mostafa El-Said as Chair of the Department of Computer Science (CS) and Dr. Jie Du as Chair of the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies (IST), effective July 1, 2025. Their leadership marks a significant step forward as the College continues to expand its academic programs, research initiatives, and student engagement efforts across two newly formed departments.
Dr. El-Said will serve as Chair of the Department of Computer Science. He brings more than 13 years of educational leadership experience to this role, having served as Program Chair and currently as the Director of Assessment and Accreditation for the College. His work has focused on advancing program quality and student outcomes through research-driven strategies and continuous improvement initiatives. Dr. El-Said was instrumental in launching key programs within the College, including the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Cybersecurity and the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. His national service through organizations like IEEE, ABET, and the Higher Learning Commission further reflects his commitment to excellence in computing education.
CS will house the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, the Master of Science in Applied Computer Science, and the College’s newest programs at the bachelor's and master's levels in Artificial Intelligence and Software Engineering. By Fall 2025, the department will comprise over 30 faculty members with expertise spanning a wide range of computing disciplines, supporting over 750 students across undergraduate and graduate programs. The department exudes a vibrant community of learners and innovators, contributing significantly to interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research, and high-quality education. It will serve as a hub for advancing GVSU’s mission of academic excellence and societal impact in computing.
Dr. Jie Du will also serve as Chair of the Department of Information Sciences and Technologies. Dr. Du has held several leadership positions within the College, including Chair of the Personnel Advisory Committee, Chair of the College Curriculum Committee, and faculty coordinator for the Student Success Center. Her leadership has focused on supporting faculty policy development, enhancing curriculum, and improving the student experience. A recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award and the Professor Well-being Award, Dr. Du is recognized for her dedication to teaching, student support, and scholarly contributions in areas such as information systems security, computer science education, and artificial intelligence.
IST will house the bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Cybersecurity, Data Science and Analytics, and the new program in Human-Centered Computing. It will also oversee bachelor's degrees in Information Systems and Information Technology, along with master's degrees in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics. By Fall 2025, the department will include over 30 faculty members with expertise across multiple disciplines and over 700 students, contributing more than 6,000 credit hours annually. This dynamic environment will continue to grow, particularly with the addition of Human-Centered Computing, and will advance interdisciplinary research, experiential learning, and innovation across the College and GVSU.
Dean Marouane Kessentini shared his enthusiasm for the appointments, stating, "Dr. El-Said and Dr. Du bring a powerful combination of vision, leadership, and deep care for our students and faculty. As we continue building the future of the College of Computing, I am confident that their expertise and passion will propel our departments to new heights of innovation and impact."
Please join us in congratulating Dr. El-Said and Dr. Du as they step into these important leadership roles and continue to shape the future of computing at GVSU.
Written by Shelby Harrison.