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Nicole L. Beebe has been appointed as the new dean of the College of Computing at Illinois Tech, effective July 1, 2025. Beebe joins Illinois Tech from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where she serves as assistant vice president in the Office of Research, the Melvin Lachman endowed chair, and professor of information systems and cybersecurity.

Beebe brings more than 25 years of industry, government, and academic experience in cybersecurity, including 17 years as a professor and administrator in higher education. During her tenure as chair of UTSA’s Department of Information Systems and Cyber Security, she grew enrollment by 55 percent and led the launch of several new programs, including the university’s first fully online undergraduate degree in cybersecurity. In her roles leading research units at UTSA, Beebe has facilitated multimillion-dollar endowment campaigns and corporate sponsorship programs, as well as establishing a cybersecurity and analytics advisory board. Having spent her entire academic career at a Hispanic Serving Institution, with approximately 70 percent underrepresented student enrollment, Beebe is dedicated to ensuring that all students thrive in computing education.

“This is a pivotal moment for computing education, and Illinois Tech is poised to reach new heights,” Beebe says. “We’re at the forefront of a rapidly changing landscape, where advancements in artificial intelligence and quantum computing demand that universities remain nimble and agile, and I’m excited to lead the College of Computing during this time of new challenges and opportunities. With a strong foundation in place, Illinois Tech is ready to charge forward, developing deep partnerships with industry and government, acquiring and retaining the best faculty in the country, and creating a learning environment where students from all walks of life can become the next generation of leaders in AI, cybersecurity, quantum, and beyond.”

“Nicole’s vision for the College of Computing and her vast experience connecting the worlds of academia and industry makes her a perfect fit for Illinois Tech,” says Interim Illinois Tech Provost Jamshid Mohammadi. “She is passionate about student success, about research that addresses global challenges, and about responding to the changing landscape of technology and society. Her proven record of enrollment growth and her commitment to equity and access make her an excellent choice to lead the College of Computing.”

“We are honored to welcome Nicole to the university,” says Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi. “I know her vision and record of innovation will further the College of Computing as it advances opportunity and innovation for all.”

Beebe replaces Lance Fortnow, inaugural dean of the College of Computing, established in 2020. Under his leadership, the college grew into the university’s largest by student enrollment, recruited 16 new tenure-track faculty, built a $21 million research portfolio, and launched innovative interdepartmental degrees in data science and cybersecurity, positioning Illinois Tech at the forefront of the data-driven technological future. The college established vital educational partnerships with Columbia College, City Colleges of �鶹APP, and STEM Cafés at local high schools. His tenure saw the creation of the endowed Grainger Computing Innovation Prize, along with new student research initiatives including the and SURE programs.

Beebe holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a concentration in information technology from UTSA, an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. She investigated computer crimes for the United States Air Force, both on active duty as a reservist, from 1998–2007, achieving the rank of major and serving as chief of Computer Investigations and Operations from 1999–2001. Her research interests relate to cybersecurity, cyber analytics, and digital forensics, with applications to insider threat, Internet of Things, threat hunting, and quantum computing. She has received $14 million in research funding since 2013 from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and various industry partners, and her publications have appeared in venues including USENIX Security, IEEE Internet of Things Journal, Journal of Parallel and Distributed Computing, IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security, and Communications of the ACM.