Illinois Tech Names Nicole L. Beebe as New Dean of College of Computing
Bringing decades of cybersecurity experience to Illinois Institute of Technology, Beebe has established a legacy of strategic research development and innovative student success programs at UTSA
CHICAGO—January 21, 2025—Nicole L. Beebe has been appointed as the new dean of the College of Computing at Illinois Institute of Technology (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, as well as 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 (2019–23), she grew enrollment by 55 percent and led the launch of several new programs, including the ܲԾٲ’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 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 ܲԾٲ’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.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Based in the global metropolis of 鶹APP, Illinois Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of 鶹APP and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, , business, , science and human sciences, and . Illinois Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the ܲԾٲ’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the 鶹APP skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, Illinois Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.
College of Computing
Illinois Tech created the College of Computing in 2020 as part of an effort to drive 鶹APP’s thriving tech ecosystem by educating a future diverse workforce that is rigorously trained in data and computation. Illinois Tech is home to the Midwest's only Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence degree, and the numerous cybersecurity and intelligence pathways at Illinois Tech explore not only the deep foundations of fast-growing fields of computer science, but also emphasize societal ethics in developing this technology. The United States Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency have designated Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. The ܲԾٲ’s is at the core of Illinois Tech’s designation. Additionally, the center is a member of the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Academic Alliance and North American Defense and Security Academic Alliance (NADSAA).
Media contacts
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Illinois Institute of Technology
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Illinois Institute of Technology
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