Andrew DeOrio named first Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs in CSE

Dr. Andrew DeOrio has been named the first Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs in CSE, a new leadership position charged with improving the student experience for undergraduates enrolled in the programs administered by CSE. As Associate Chair, DeOrio will oversee efforts aimed at improving curriculum quality, streamlining the undergraduate advising function across programs, coordination of other cross-cutting issues across undergraduate programs, and student support programs.

DeOrio is a teaching faculty in CSE and is Director of the CSE Teaching Lab, the mission of which is to create a faculty community around the Division’s teaching mission, reflecting its values of supporting students through a world class education.

“The student experience will be my foremost priority, ” says DeOrio. “Students should feel that they have the support they need to succeed in CS, whoever they are, and whatever their background is.”

The focus on undergraduate affairs and the undergraduate student experience is an important aspect of how CSE is managing the growth of its undergraduate programs. As of Winter 2023, 3062 students were enrolled in CSE’s computer engineering, computer science, and data science undergraduate programs. Ten years ago, in Winter 2013, that number was 888.

“Undergraduate education has always been a core mission for CSE, and this new position has been created to effectively manage all the policies and programs that serve our students, as we aim to provide an integrated and supportive experience at scale,” says Michael Wellman, the Richard H. Orenstein Division Chair of Computer Science and Engineering.

Another priority for DeOrio will be to connect students to additional opportunities and resources which are available. For instance, “multiple paths exist to engage in undergraduate research,” says DeOrio. “There are also options for enrolling in mentorship programs or for becoming an undergraduate instructional aide. I’d like to see us present these opportunities in a more coherent way.”

DeOrio completed his PhD in CSE at the University of Michigan in 2012 and later joined the Michigan faculty. In his first year teaching at CSE, he taught over 1500 students in EECS 280, EECS 281, and as an assistant in EECS 381, and was subsequently voted HKN Professor of the Year by EECS students at the end of his first year. 

He has continued to gain accolades for his excellence in instruction, and was chosen by the College of Engineering to receive the Thomas M. Sawyer, Jr. Teaching Award in 2014, and by the University with the Provost’s Teaching Innovation Prize in 2017. The EECS Department recognized his excellence in 2022 with an Outstanding Achievement Award. DeOrio has three times been selected by the students as HKN Professor of the Year, in 2013, 2018, and 2023.