College of Sciences
Department of Computer Science Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Message from Leadership
Dear Donor, Over the past year, we have seen remarkable growth in student engagement and research innovation. Advances in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and resilient computing systems have created new opportunities for faculty and students to address real-world challenges. One of the greatest sources of inspiration has been our students. Their curiosity, creativity, and determination motivate us to explore new ideas and pursue ambitious research goals. Whether conducting research, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects, presenting at conferences, or participating in industry partnerships, they have demonstrated a strong commitment to learning and discovery. Faculty are advancing research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cyber-physical systems, IoT and networks, cloud and edge computing, and next-generation software systems. Students are gaining hands-on experience and preparing to become future leaders. None of these accomplishments would be possible without the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission.
Shangping Ren, Ph.D. Chair and Professor, Department of Computer Science
Philanthropy
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward Cybersecurity Center for Research and Education Fund The Department of Computer Science received generous support for the Cybersecurity Center for Research and Education Fund, which advances the center’s mission to address critical cybersecurity challenges through interdisciplinary research, education, and workforce development. The Cybersecurity Center for Research and Education brings together faculty, students, and industry partners to foster innovation in areas such as digital forensics, artificial intelligence, wireless security, embedded systems security, and cybersecurity management. Contributions to the fund provide flexible resources that strengthen research initiatives, expand student learning opportunities, and help prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals to meet the evolving demands of a rapidly growing field.
An SDSU Cyber Defense Team member applies cybersecurity skills during a hands-on training exercise.
Student Spotlight
Thriving in the Aztec Experience Everett Richards, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Sciences Major: Computer Science and Applied Mathematics Everett began studying computer science at SDSU, expecting to pursue a career in software engineering, but his path changed after participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). Through research on robust human-robot interaction in construction environments, he saw how computing research can have an immediate real-world impact by improving worker safety and supporting decision-making in complex environments. Since then, Everett has worked in five research labs across the country and published three research papers at IEEE conferences. He has also held numerous leadership roles, including ACM chapter president, co-founding the Innovate 4 SDSU Hackathon, and serving as a University Council representative. This fall, Everett will begin a Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Delaware, where he plans to develop safer and more equitable intelligent transportation systems. He credits SDSU’s technical foundation, mentorship, and research opportunities for helping him reach this milestone.
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[Everett] credits SDSU’s technical foundation, mentorship, and research opportunities for helping him reach this milestone.
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Student Spotlight
Yahui Jiang, Class of 2026 Class Level: Graduate Student College: College of Sciences Major: Computer Science Yahui is a master’s student in computer science at San Diego State University. The program’s strong course design has strengthened his knowledge of machine learning, computer networks, and algorithms. One particularly impactful experience was the graduate seminar course, which introduced the fundamentals of scientific research. Throughout the program, he has maintained a 4.0 GPA while actively exploring research interests and future academic goals. With support and mentorship from computer science faculty, Yahui has contributed to research projects in machine learning, blockchain, and autonomous driving. His research on machine learning-enabled wireless networks was published at the IEEE International Conference on Communications TOCG6G Workshop in 2025, while additional projects are being refined for future publication. Serving as a teaching associate has also been a rewarding part of his graduate experience. He has enjoyed helping students develop hands-on programming skills and seeing students from other disciplines discover an interest in computer science and computational thinking.
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With support and mentorship from computer science faculty, Yahui has contributed to research projects in machine learning, blockchain, and autonomous driving.
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Points of Pride
Celebrating Shared Success Statistics of Interest The Department of Computer Science serves 1,172 students, including 1,052 undergraduate and 120 graduate students. During the 2025-26 Academic Year, the department awarded 368 degrees, including 339 bachelor’s degrees and 29 master’s degrees. Recent Highlights The Department of Computer Science continues to grow in both academic excellence and research impact. Following SDSU’s achievement of Carnegie R1 research status, the department has expanded opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge research and innovation. Beginning in Fall 2026, the department will launch a new Master of Science program in artificial intelligence and technology to prepare graduates for leadership roles in rapidly evolving technology fields. The department has also introduced new courses in artificial intelligence and data science and is home to the founding director of the Center for Excellence in Cyber Security. Faculty and students continue to advance research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, resilient computing, and autonomous systems.
Student Scale
Department serves 1,172 students and awarded 368 degrees in 2025-26, including 339 bachelor’s and 29 master’s degrees.
AI Innovation
A new M.S. in AI and technology joins growing research in AI, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Joann Chen, Ph.D. Title: Assistant Professor College: College of Sciences Achievement: Received an National Science Foundation grant as sole principal investigator for research on privacyenhancing technologies and advises Ph.D. and undergraduate researchers whose work has led to top-tier conference publications. Dr. Chen’s research advances trustworthy computing through work in cybersecurity and privacy. Her research applies privacy-preserving methods, including differential privacy, to large-scale systems and develops provenance graph-based intrusion detection techniques to identify and analyze security threats. She has strengthened the department’s cybersecurity and privacy curriculum by proposing new courses that prepare students to address emerging technological and societal challenges. In addition to her research accomplishments, Dr. Chen is deeply committed to student mentorship. She advises Ph.D. and undergraduate researchers on projects that have resulted in publications at top-tier conferences, providing students with valuable experience in high-impact research and academic collaboration. Beyond the university, she serves on the Privacy Advisory Board for the City of San Diego, reflecting her growing leadership and service within the broader community.
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Congratulations, Dr. Chen, on receiving a National Science Foundation grant as sole principal investigator for research on privacy-enhancing technologies!
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Faculty and Staff Achievements
Hyunjong Choi, Ph.D. Title: Assistant Professor College: College of Sciences Achievement: Named SDSU’s 2025 Most Influential Computer Science Faculty member. Dr. Choi also secured a Hyundai Motor Company grant to improve real-time, safety-critical vehicle systems. His ROS 2 hardware accelerator won Best Paper at IEEE RTAS, and his F1Tenth team placed third and earned the Most Autonomous Vehicle Award. Dr. Choi received his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Riverside, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Yonsei University in Korea. Dr. Choi’s research interests lie at the intersection of real-time systems and autonomous robotics. His primary focus is on the design and analysis of safe, predictable, and efficient computing systems under dynamic timing and resource constraints. In particular, he works on real-time scheduling for the Robot Operating System (ROS 2), chain-aware scheduling for end-toend latency optimization, weakly hard real-time task frameworks, and hardware accelerator management for robotic applications. On the applied side, his research spans industry and academic collaborations with strong contributions to self-driving vehicles, autonomous racing, smart IoT, and automotive safety-critical systems, including a funded partnership with Hyundai Motor Company. Beyond his research, Dr. Choi is deeply committed to providing students with hands-on experience in autonomous systems. He leads the Aztec Autonomous Racing Team (A2RT), an undergraduate and graduate student team that designs, builds, and programs a scaled autonomous racing vehicle using real-time embedded systems and computer vision. His team competed in the F1Tenth Grand Prix at CPSIoT Week, one of the premier international venues in cyberphysical systems, where the team placed third overall and received the Most Autonomous Vehicle Award, recognizing the reliability of its autonomy stack.
Thank you for your generous support.
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