Debra J. Richardson, Ph.D.
Professor of Informatics
The Ted & Janice Smith Family Foundation Dean
Debra J.
RichardsonDebra J. Richardson, professor of Informatics, is committed to raising the Bren School of ICS' rankings and building an infrastructure to support a dynamic academic and research school that meets the demands of the local community and industry and contributes to the global economy.
She has dedicated enormous time to ensuring that UCI's computer science program is top-tier, encompassing a broad and interdisciplinary curriculum, while attracting the best and brightest students and faculty.
To that end, Richardson was instrumental in securing a $20 million endowment for the school.
Richardson came to UCI in 1987 and was appointed chair of the then-department of ICS in July 2000.
Under her leadership, the department was promoted to the first computer science school in University of California history in December 2002.
She was named the Ted and Janice Smith Dean of the new school in January 2003.
Committed to increasing the participation of women and other underrepresented groups in computing and information technology, Richardson serves as director of the Ada Byron Research Center for Diversity in Computing and Information Technology (ABRC), whose mission is to study and promote diverse perspectives in computer science, engineering, digital media and related information technology (IT) fields through a variety of research, mentoring and outreach activities.
She is an active member of the Leadership Team of the National Center for Women and Information Technology.
Currently, she sits on the following boards:
» Board of trustees for Girls, Inc., Orange County, a non-profit association devoted to advancing women and girls in computing and technology
» The executive advisory board of the Association for Women in Technology, a non-profit organization of women devoted to the advancement of women working in computing and technology
» The board of trustees of the Orange County Chapter of ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Foundation, which raises scholarship funds dedicated to helping the best and brightest students achieve as scientists and engineers
» The board of directors of Cotelligent, Inc., a leading provider of mobile business solutions, services and wireless hosting.A leader in her research field, Richardson pioneered research in "specification-based testing," whereby formal methods are employed to guide software testing.
Her current work focuses on enabling specification-based testing technology throughout the software lifecycle, from requirements and architecture analysis through operation and evolution.
She has developed leading edge tools, and has worked with several companies in adopting technology to improve the quality of critical software systems.
Richardson received her B.A. in Mathematics from the University of California at San Diego in 1976 and the M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science at the University of Massachusetts in 1978 and 1981, respectively.
