School Of Computing Newsletter - October 2025

WHAT'S INSIDE THIS ISSUE

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Osprey for a Day — SoC: November 3rd, 11:00-11:30 a.m.
• Faculty and staff meeting: October 10 at 11 a.m. in Building 15, Room 3120. Lunch will be provided. If you are not able to attend, a Teams link is available for virtual attendance.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Dr. Zornitza Prodanoff conducted research at Université Côte d'Azur in Nice, France, exploring links between quantum computing and cellular automata. She also presented graduate papers by David Wisnosky and Iliya Kulbaka at the 22nd International Conference on Unconventional Computation and Natural Computation, and co-chaired a workshop on quantum computing with Finnish scientist Mika Hirvensalo.

Dr. Swapnoneel Roy’s paper “Security Risk Mitigation with Bayesian Attack Graphs is Weakly NP-Hard” has been accepted to IEEE Military Communications Conference 2025.

Dr. Karthikeyan Umapathy’s paper "Developing Florida Digital Divide Index: A Comprehensive Analysis of Internet Accessibility and Socio-economic Characteristics” has been accepted to the 2025 ISCAP Conference.

WELCOME DR. YONGZHAO WANG

Welcome to the School of Computing Dr. Yongzhao Wang. Dr. Wang describes joining UNF as an exciting new chapter in his life. He notes the warm welcome and warm environment from his colleagues here.

His first week was a mix of big and small milestones. From charting the direction of his research and teaching agenda, setting up his office, and getting familiar with campus. Joining Dr. Niu representing UNF at the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NCACA) was a highlight.

Starting fresh is not only about academia, as Dr. Wang is setting up his life outside the university. The city is not as hot as he anticipated, the sunsets are stunning, and the drivers are wilder than he expected.

His first few weeks have been about discovery, connections, and promise. Dr. Wang is excited for what is ahead both on campus and beyond.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHT

It is no secret that women in the computing and STEM world are not the majority. According to the U.S. Department of Labor only 24% of people in computing positions are women. But here at the School of Computing we have a rising leader in the president of SWAT (Society for Women Advancing Technology), Emily Delaere.

Delaere is a senior studying Information Technology graduating in December 2025. She comes from an IT family, her mother is a cybersecurity architect and her father is a software engineer. Although her original path was going to be a pediatrician, information technology is her career.

Even though her family led her to computing, there have been challenges. Delaere spoke with me about the challenges she faced when she first began her degree, saying “I definitely struggled through my first class (coding) because I was a little more introverted, but as I got to talk to my groupmates and formed friendships it was easier for me because I wasn’t studying by myself.” Forming the friendships and bonds while pursuing her degree has been vital for Delaere and has led her to lead the student club SWAT, creating networking and career opportunities for fellow students.

Her advice for students entering information technology is to invest in building connections, both in and outside of class. She emphasized the importance of collaboration in the field, and that computing is about learning from others and growing together. Delaere stated “Networking opens doors to opportunities, mentorship, and friendships that can support both your personal and professional development.” She plans to develop her career in IT project management by taking analytical and technical roles and is considering pursuing her master’s degree in business administration.