Message from the chair

Welcome to the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Our department is a vibrant, forward-looking community dedicated to excellence in education, research and service to society. Grounded in VCU’s mission of real-world learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and public impact, we strive to prepare students to think critically, learn continuously and engage meaningfully with the world around them. In the age of AI, these are critical skills that will contribute to our student’s preparation for the job market. 

We proudly offer an ABET-accredited B.S. program, along with our B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees. These programs provide rigorous foundations in computing while offering flexible pathways in areas such as cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence, software engineering and interdisciplinary computing. Students benefit from hands-on learning, early involvement in research, experiential projects and a wide range of student organizations that foster leadership, teamwork and professional development. Computer Science is the largest department in the VCU College of Engineering.

Our location is in the heart of Richmond which is one of the most diverse, creative and rapidly evolving cities on the East Coast. Richmond and the broader central Virginia area offer students unparalleled opportunities for engagement with industry, government, healthcare systems and community partners. This ecosystem strengthens our commitment to preparing graduates who are not only strong technologists but also ethical thinkers, collaborative problem-solvers and socially conscious innovators.

The excellence of our department is driven by the achievements of our world-class faculty. We are home to two IEEE Fellows, two AIMBE Fellows, one Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and one Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, as well as six faculty recognized among the world’s top 2% most-cited researchers. Their work is supported by competitive federal funding — from NSF, NIH, DoD, DoE, DARPA, DHS, NSA, VHA, INL — and by leading industry partners including Google and Bank of America. Their scholarship not only advances the frontiers of computing but also shapes the educational experiences of our students.

As chair, I am proud to lead a department committed to innovation and the pursuit of knowledge that benefits humanity. Whether you are a prospective student, current Ram, alumnus or partner, I invite you to join us as we continue to grow, discover and shape the future of computing together.

Kemal Akkaya, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Computer Science