Jeanna Matthews

Professor
Jeanna  Matthews Headshot

Biography

Jeanna Matthews is a full professor of computer science at Clarkson University and an affiliate at Data and Society. She has published work in a broad range of systems topics from virtualization and cloud computing to social media security and distributed file systems. She has been a four-time presenter at DEF CON on topics including security vulnerabilities in virtual environments (2015 and 2016), adversarial testing of criminal justice software (2018) and trolling (2018). She is an ACM Distinguished Speaker, a Fulbright Specialist, founding co-chair of the ACM Technology Policy Subcommittee on Artificial Intelligence and Algorithm Accountability and a member of the ACM Technology Policy Committee. She has been a member of the ACM Council (2015-present), chair of the ACM Special Interest Group Governing Board ( 2016-2018) and the chair of the ACM Special Interest Group on Operating Systems (SIGOPS) from 2011 to 2015. Her current work focuses on securing societal decision-making processes and supporting the rights of individuals in a world of automation. She received a 2018-2019 Brown Institute Magic Grant to research differences in DNA software programs used in the criminal justice system. Jeanna received her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1999, a B.S. in Mathematics and Computer Science from Ohio State University in 1994 and a B.A. in Spanish from the State University of New York at Potsdam in 2015.

Education Background

Computer Science Ph.D. - 1999 University of California at Berkeley
Computer Science M.S. - 1997 University of California at Berkeley
Mathematics and Computer Science B.S. - 1994 Ohio State University
Spanish B.A. - 2016 State University of New York at Potsdam

Courses Taught

  • CS444/544 - Operating Systems
  • CS457/557/EE410/510 - Computer and Network Security
  • CS455/555/EE407/507 - Computer Networks
  • CS141 - Introduction to Computer Science I
  • 2017 - Adirondack Semester: Big Data and the Adirondacks, Spring 2017
  • 2017 - Dominican Republic: UNIV 349, Global Service Learning
  • 2015 - Dominican Republic: UNIV 349, Global Service Learning
  • 2014 - St. Lawrence Seaway: Power, Politics and the Mighty St. Lawrence
  • 2014 - Brazil: UNIV 399, Global Business

Teaching Interests

At Clarkson, I have enjoyed the opportunity to teach a wide variety of courses from operating systems to networks to security.  Wherever possible, I mix lecture with hands-on lab experiences, especially using open source software tools. Open source tools form a toolkit that students can take with them to any job or to the forming of new businesses. I want to give students tools and strategies for questioning what we think we know about the best way to build the computing systems that are changing nearly every aspect of modern life. I ask students to go beyond the course material to solve open-ended problems. I ask them to practice strategies for life-long learning by engaging with primary sources of information.  I set current systems in the context of how and why they developed as they did and encourage students to question whether the underlying assumptions are still valid today. I ask them to consider whether the systems we are building and using respect the rights of individuals and contribute to healthy sustainable communities.  One of my most popular ACM Distinguished Speaker Lectures (“Becoming a Researcher: Tools and Strategies for Taming the Angst and Changing the World”) is based on experience I have had teaching students at all levels to tackle open-ended problems.  Beyond my regular teaching contributions, I have taught several study abroad programs including a service learning course to the Dominican Republic (2017 and 2015), a global business program course to Brazil (2014) and a course on the origins of mathematics jointly with SUNY Potsdam faculty to Mexico (2013). 

Service

  • ACM Distinguished Speaker
  • ACM Technology Policy Council
  • U.S. Public Policy Committee of the Association for Computing Machinery (USACM)
  • ACM's Special Interest Group on Operating Systems (SIGOPS)
  • Computer Science Teacher's Association (CSTA)

Publications

BOOKS

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

Contact

Email: jmatthew@clarkson.edu

Office Phone Number: 315/268-6288

Office Location: 389 Science Center

Clarkson Box Number: CU Box 5815

Website: https://people.clarkson.edu/~jmatthew/