Diane L. Souvaine
Biography
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Computer Science and Mathematics A.B. c.l., English & Mathematics, Harvard University M.A.L.S., Mathematical Sciences, Dartmouth College M.S.E., Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Princeton University M.A., Computer Science, Princeton University Ph.D., Computer Science, Princeton University |
Dr. Diane L. Souvaine, Professor of Computer Science and Adjunct Professor of Mathematics, has been a member of the Tufts University faculty since 1998. She served as Vice Provost for Research from 2012-2016, Senior Advisor to the Provost from 2016-2017, and Chair of the Department of Computer Science from 2002-2009.
Prior to Tufts, Dr. Souvaine was a member of the Rutgers University faculty for 12 years. During her tenure at Rutgers, she served for 2.5 years in the Directorate of NSF’s Science and Technology Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science (DIMACS), a groundbreaking academic/industry collaboration of Princeton, Rutgers, Bell Labs and Bellcore. DIMACS is tasked with both the theoretical development of mathematics and computer science and their practical applications.
Dr. Souvaine’s research contributions range from solving challenging problems in computational geometry to practical application across disciplines. Her work extended the results of straight-edged computational geometry into the curved world. Visibility, triangulations and geometric graphs represent another focus of Dr. Souvaine’s research as does the application of computational geometry to statistics. Her research led to consulting engagements with corporations such as Exxon Chemical Research, IBM and Pfizer.
Elected Chair in 2018 and Vice Chair in 2016, Dr. Souvaine is in her second term on the National Science Board to which she was appointed in 2008 and 2014. She has chaired NSB’s Committee on Strategy and Budget and its Committee on Programs and Plans, and served on its Committee on Audit and Oversight, all of which provide strategic direction, and oversight and guidance on NSF projects and programs.
In addition to her scientific and policy contributions, Dr. Souvaine is dedicated to increasing diversity and advancing women and underrepresented groups in mathematics, science, and engineering and works to enhance pre-college education in mathematics and computational thinking.
Dr. Souvaine is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and was a 2005-2006 Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Among many other accomplishments, she was the recipient of the 2008 Lillian and Joseph Leibner Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring.