Director's Message to UMIACS June/July 2026

As you may have already heard, the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences has announced a new director of UMIACS—David Jacobs—who will assume the role this September. I will continue to serve as interim director over the next two months.

David is an outstanding choice for this position, bringing a distinguished record of research and scholarship along with a compelling vision for the institute's future. He will lead an organization that is a powerhouse at the University of Maryland and an internationally recognized hub for interdisciplinary computing research.

Serving as interim director for the past 12 months has been a rewarding experience. Although I have been an active member of UMIACS since arriving at Maryland in late 2014, this role has given me an even deeper appreciation for the people and operations that make the institute so successful.

Despite recent budget reductions across campus—including cuts to the UMIACS base budget—the institute remains strong. That resilience is due in large part to the outstanding work of our business and technical staff, whose expertise and dedication are essential to everything we do.

Our research enterprise also continues to thrive. Several examples are featured in this month's newsletter, including a collaboration between UMIACS researchers and the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems to develop a surgical rollback tool for AI memory. Other groundbreaking work in computer vision and robotics demonstrates the breadth and impact of the research taking place across the institute.

UMIACS-affiliated faculty will also play a significant role in the latest round of Grand Challenges Grants, contributing to interdisciplinary projects addressing pandemics, cancer, infectious diseases, and environmental health.

What has consistently driven the success of UMIACS is its people. The institute brings together an extraordinarily talented community, and the achievements highlighted in this newsletter offer a glimpse of the excellence that defines UMIACS.

Among those recognized this month is Leila De Floriani, a professor of geographical sciences and longtime UMIACS member, who was named a Distinguished University Professor. The honor recognizes her internationally acclaimed research, leadership, and commitment to teaching, as well as her pioneering contributions to geospatial computing, data science, and scientific visualization.

Also recognized was Mohammad Hajiaghayi, who received the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Economics and Computation (ACM SIGecom) Test of Time Award. The award recognizes research that has had a lasting impact on the study of online auctions, mechanism design, and digital markets.

These are just two examples of the excellence that defines UMIACS. Every day, our faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers push the boundaries of knowledge, develop innovative solutions, and expand the reach of Maryland research. Their work strengthens the institute and creates new opportunities for discovery across disciplines.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve alongside all of you during the past year. I look forward to continuing to contribute to the success of UMIACS and to supporting the institute's mission in the years ahead.

Best,
Andrew Childs
Interim Director, UMIACS