The Computing Community Consortium (CCC) is thrilled to announce new leadership. Nadya Bliss will assume the role of Chair, while Katie Siek will take on the position of Vice Chair. Both Nadya and Katie bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record of contributions to CCC. We eagerly anticipate their continued dedication and innovative leadership in advancing the mission of CCC.
Bliss assumed the role of Vice Chair for CCC on July 1, 2022, following her membership in the Council since July 2017. Over the years, she has been instrumental in CCC’s initiatives, contributing significantly to RFIs, whitepapers, and workshops. Notably, her contributions were pivotal in projects such as Applying AI in the Fight Against Modern Slavery and Embedded Security. Recently, Bliss has authored a strategic plan addressing cybersecurity, AI accountability policies, and the secure development and utilization of AI technologies.
“I am honored to take over as Chair of the CCC from my friend and colleague Dan Lopresti. The CCC plays a vital role in shaping the direction of future computing advancements, and ensuring those advancements are ethical, responsible and inclusive,” Bliss said. “I look forward to working with vice-chair Katie Siek, my fellow Council members and CCC staff to continue to deliver impactful programming and further expand the CCC’s reach and engagement. I am grateful to Dan Lopresti for his leadership and mentorship these past few years.”
Siek has been a member of the Council since 2019 and an executive member since 2022, actively contributing to various initiatives concerning sociotechnical systems. She also serves on the CRA board as an elected officer. Throughout her time at CCC, Siek has been instrumental in championing efforts aimed at supporting vulnerable populations. From co-organizing the Accessible for All workshop, where she led the CCC to collaborate with the Computing Research Association-Industry, to authoring a white paper on smart technologies tailored for older adults and caregivers, her leadership has been pivotal in addressing critical societal needs. Siek also co-organized the 2023 Future of Pandemic Prevention and Response workshop.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to give back to the computing community and the CCC who have been so instrumental in my career – especially with CCC’s lasting efforts to catalyze health and computing research,” Siek said. “I look forward to collaborating with the CCC Council and broader computing community to identify needs; foster inclusive, interdisciplinary collaborations; and define ambitious research agendas that contribute to mutually beneficial societal impact.”
We are very excited to also welcome six new council members: Weisong Shi (University of Delaware), Rayid Ghani (Carnegie Mellon University), Sebastian Elbaum (University of Virginia), Rachel Greenstadt (New York University), Manish Parashar (University of Utah), and Gabrielle Allen (University of Wyoming). We are also happy to share that current member Holly Yanco will be serving another year. Head on over to our previous blog to read more about the new council members here.