College of Computing News

Mynatt Takes Helm of Computing Consortium

Beth Mynatt, professor in the School of Interactive Computing and executive director of Georgia Tech’s Institute for People and Technology, will assume the role of chair of the Computing Community Consortium (CCC), beginning July 1.

Mynatt has served on the CCC since its formation and was previously vice-chair of the organization. She has spearheaded activities forging research collaborations in healthcare and health information technologies. Recently, Mynatt was one of the lead organizers for the CCC and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Aging in Place Workshop, which led to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) new program for Collaborative Aging (in Place) Research Using Technology (CART) (U2C). Conclusions from that workshop were also integrated into the recent PCAST report on "Independence, Technology and Connection in Older Age," which Mynatt helped co-author.  

"The CCC has a terrific track record in convening the computing research community to act on strategic national interests," Mynatt said. "I'm excited and daunted to take the reins for the next two years as the computing field and our nation are going through transformative changes. Computing capabilities are intrinsic to much of our society. Our field faces unprecedented opportunities and responsibilities."

Mynatt has been a member of the CCC executive committee for the past four years. She recently co-chaired the Computing Visions 2025 steering committee to advise the National Science Foundation (NSF) on future, and potentially disruptive, trends for future computing research. The Visions 2025 meetings focused on emergent cyber-social-physical systems that powerfully combine computing and interactions with people and the physical world.

Professor Annie Antón, chair of the Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing, said, "Dr. Mynatt's new role as CCC chair demonstrates her national leadership in computing research. Consistent with Georgia Tech President Bud Peterson's commitment to sharing 'what Georgia Tech thinks,' she will be enabling the highest-quality thinking nationwide about our technological future."

The CCC was established in 2006 through a cooperative agreement between the Computing Research Association (CRA) and the NSF. CCC conducts activities that strengthen the research community, articulate compelling research visions, and align those visions with pressing national and global challenges. CCC communicates the importance of those visions to policymakers, government and industry stakeholders, the public, and the research community itself. The council consists of a chair, vice chair, executive committee, and 15 council members from various academic institutions and industries across the country.

The organization is based at the CRA’s headquarters in Washington, DC. To learn more about CCC and its mission, visit its website.