2023: Isbell's Visionary Impact Pushed Beyond Boundaries

2023 was a transformative year for the College of Computing community. The following is an excerpt from the College's recently published annual report.

From OMSCS to Threads to Constellations and beyond, Charles Isbell’s commitment to academic innovation, online education, and computing equity has defined the College and shaped computing at Georgia Tech for two decades.

"Charles has been a transformative leader in higher education even before becoming a dean,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera.

As a faculty member in 2011, Charles Isbell was crucial in developing the Online Master of Science in Computer Science program. His machine learning course, co-taught with Brown University’s Michael Littman, was one of five initial courses offered when OMSCS launched in 2014.

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“As part of the team that created the Online Masters in CS, he helped transform graduate CS education, dramatically expanding access and reducing cost while maintaining top quality and building community beyond what the traditional program could do,” Cabrera said.

The influence OMSCS had on online education in CS also impacts other fields.

“OMSCS has revolutionized distance learning in computer science and inspired the development of Georgia Tech’s OMS Analytics and OMS Cybersecurity programs,” said Dean of Engineering Raheem Beyah.

Before OMSCS, Isbell was a driving force behind the College’s Threads program, which began in 2006. The innovative program, still a key differentiator for the College more than 15 years later, lets students tailor their CS degrees with classes related to AI, cybersecurity, or other fields.

“The development of Threads in the undergraduate CS curriculum was a pivotal decision toward the future of Computing,” said Haesun Park, chair of the School of Computational Science and Engineering.

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Highlighting Isbell’s influence beyond the College, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering implemented the Threads curriculum model. 

“Charles has consistently emerged as a trailblazer, spearheading or significantly contributing to nearly every notable innovation within the College of Computing. These groundbreaking advancements have extended beyond the College, leaving a lasting impact in various domains,” said Beyah.

Isbell’s lasting impact on the College is evident in his groundbreaking work advancing diversity and inclusivity in computing. Beginning in 2017, as executive associate dean, he initiated programs and policies to foster a more inclusive environment in response to the glaring underrepresentation of minorities and women in technology.

These efforts culminated with the launch of the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing at Georgia Tech in 2017. The center’s mission is to ensure that all students—especially students of color, women, and others from underserved communities—have access to quality CS education.

As the founding executive director of Constellations, Isbell was instrumental in creating a strategic partnership to provide CS instruction for Atlanta Public Schools (APS). Through this partnership, Constellations fellows have taught CS fundamentals to hundreds of high school students and provided professional development to scores of teachers, administrators, and counselors.

The Computer Research Association (CRA) recognized Isbell’s commitment to advancing diversity and equity in computing earlier this year by naming him as the 2023 recipient of the CRA A. Nico Habermann Award.

“For as long as I have known him, Charles has championed initiatives to inspire people of color, women, and others from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in computing,” said Alex Orso, former interim dean of the College of Computing. “His efforts to broaden participation in computing not only enriches Georgia Tech’s student body but also pave the way for a more representative and innovative tech industry.”

The College honored Isbell’s unwavering pursuit of diversity in computing by establishing student fellowships in his name. The Charles L. Isbell Jr. Graduate Fellowships will fund graduate students from underrepresented groups. Once fully endowed, the fund will create a cohort of Isbell Fellows each year.

Isbell’s mark on Georgia Tech is a testament to the power of visionary leadership and its potential to shape an institution and the trajectory of an entire field. “Charles has been a valued leader at Georgia Tech, and there’s no question that he will continue to have a global impact,” said Beyah.