November 26, 2008 -- William Wulf, a University of Virginia computer science professor, has been elected chairman of the board of trustees for the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology.

Wulf is the AT&T Professor of Computer Science in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and former president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Borg institute provides resources and programs for industry, academia and government to help them recruit, retain and develop women leaders in high tech fields. Wulf has served on the board for 11 years as part of his commitment to encourage diversity in the field of engineering.

Wulf received the first computer science Ph.D. ever awarded at the University of Virginia in 1968. He then served as faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, as chairman of Tartan Laboratories and assistant director of the National Science Foundation. In 1990, he returned to U.Va. as AT&T Professor, and later became a University Professor.

Mary Lou Soffa, chair of the Department of Computer Science, said. “Many of us are dedicated to improving the level of gender and ethnic diversity in computer science and Bill’s willingness to give his time to that effort is greatly appreciated.”

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