Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering, Drexel University
CS Alumni News
Issue 4                                                                                     Fall 2010
Drexel Campus
Welcome to the e-newsletter from Drexel's CS Department. Every quarter we plan to keep in touch with our alumni by sending student, faculty and alumni news and achievements. For more information about alumni events and activities, please visit our new Alumni Website.
Where are they now?
Tom Bennett 
Tom Bennett imageClass Year:  2008
Degrees: BS in Computer Science
Currently: Tom is a Software Development Engineer at Amazon.com in Seattle, Wash., where he works on the Search Inside the Book program. He played a key role in deploying the AJAX-based book preview widget across 6 marketplaces over the summer, and is currently the lead dev integrating the book ingestion pipeline with a major publisher. In his spare time he writes iPhone apps, practices capoeira and watches the Eagles play every Sunday with other Philly expats.
Nilesh Karia 
Nilesh imageClass Year:  2006
Degrees: MS in Computer Science
Currently: Nilesh is working at Bloomberg, where he is part of the Web Crawler team in Bloomberg Research & Development. He works in low level C++ and designing fast algorithms to fetch news stories, company releases, financial market information and government and regulatory information and releases. In his free time, he enjoys reading, running, race karts and skiing. (Though he doesn't get much free time).
Lee Fisher 
Lee Fisher imageClass Year:  1997
Degrees: BS in Computer Science
CurrentlyLee is Applications Development Manager at Vishay Intertechnology, an international electronic components manufacturer headquartered in Malvern, Pa., where he leads technical development for Internet and Commerce Web projects.  Lee also contributes articles for BoardgameNews.com and plays Tuba in the Chester County Concert band (with other fellow Drexel Alumni).  He also works with Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania Circle K as a member of University City Kiwanis.
Rebecca Mercuri, Ph.D.
Rebecca Mercuri imageClass Year: 1989
Degree: MS in Computer Science
CurrentlyRebecca is the CEO and lead forensic expert at Notable Software, Inc. where she and her team of investigators provide support for criminal defense, intellectual property and election-related matters. Her caseload has included contraband, murder, computer viruses, malware and security, wrongful work termination, financial fraud, class-action suits, copyright and patent infringement. Recently, she contributed a chapter to an upcoming Springer book on Digital Image Forensics. Rebecca also serves as an adjunct member of the Computer Engineering faculty at The College of New Jersey.
Read more news about our alumni here
Where are you now?
The CS Department wants to hear from you. What have you been up to since graduating from Drexel? Take a few minutes to fill out our questionnaire  and tell us about your life. We're interested and so are your fellow graduates.
Drexel Computer Science celebrates CS Education Week, Dec. 5-11, 2010
CS Ed Week imageComputer Science is a vital part of society and plays a critical role in education, innovations and economic growth. In 2009, Congress declared a week in December National Computer Science Education Week to recognize the importance of this transforming industry, encouraging interest and participation in the field. It was also chosen to honor Grace Hopper (born Dec. 9, 1906), a pioneer in the computer science industry. In honor of the week, the CS Department and its student ogranizations hosted computing events and activities, including a CS-Themed Cranium Game, Game Night, Grace Hopper Birthday Party and CS Lecture and Movie Night featuring Avatar. The events were very well attended.  Make your own pledge to support National Computer Science Education Week here.  
Jay Modi Memorial Lecture, Jan. 24 
Jay Modi imageThe CS Department is happy to welcome, Dr. Sven Koenig, associate professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Southern California, who will be the distinguished speaker at the 3rd Annual Jay Modi Memorial Lecture. This lecture series was established to honor Pragnesh Jay Modi (1975-2007), who joined the CS Department as an Assistant Professor in 2005 upon completing his Ph.D.  from the University of Southern California. Professor Modi was an outstanding teacher and rising star in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) community. Before the presentation, a CS Ph.D. student is presented with the Jay Modi Award in recognition of academic excellence and the potential to become a leader in the field. 

View the Jay Modi Memorial Lecture website here. To see the previous Jay Modi Award winners, click here. Those wishing to make a contribution to the Jay Modi Memorial Fund may do so by contacting Tuyet Sithiphavong at [email protected] or by phone at 215-895-6385.
CS Department Offers Flyers Tickets
Flyers logoTo celebrate the upcoming New Year, the CS Department would like to invite alumni to join students, faculty and staff at the Philadelphia Flyers vs. Ottawa Senators game, Thurs., Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.  A limited number of tickets are available at a reduced price of $20 per person (limit 2 per order). If you're interested in attending, please email Julie Fisher by Jan. 10, 2011. We hope to see you there!

CS Alumni Committee Formed and Begins First Tasks

The CS Department formed an Alumni Committee that will continue to build the relationship between students, faculty and alumni. This new group will begin reaching out and contacting more alumni, as well as develop new ways to build on last year's events, which included the Drexel Basketball game, UPE Alumni Reception and Drexel's Alumni Weekend Phillies game and reception. Some possibilities are the Alumni Bagged Lunches, regional happy hours and research lab reunions. We're seeking participation from all alumni, so please let us know if you are interested in helping.

Note from the Department Head

Jeremy Johnson image

This issue highlights some of the alumni activities we have planned for 2011.  We will be building on several successful events that were held last year, which included our UPE Alumni Dinner, an outing to a Phillies game and a department reception during Drexel's Alumni Weekend. This year we will have an outing to a Philadelphia Flyers game, the 3rd Annual UPE Alumni Dinner, another event during Alumni Weekend May 6-7, 2011 (the University and CS Department will recognize alumni from the class of 1986).  We'd also like to extend the invitation to the 3rdAnnual Jay Modi Memorial Lecture. Details of the Flyers game and the Memorial Lecture are included below.  More information about our celebration during the upcoming Alumni Weekend will appear in the next newsletter.

 

Happy New Year,


Jeremy Johnson 
Quick Links 

Save the Date!

  UPE Alumni Research Reception & Dinner

February 25, 2011

6 -9 p.m.

More information will be coming soon!

Please contact the editor, Julie Fisher, for any questions or information
about the Department
of Computer Science and its newsletter.
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