After a thorough search, the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) at UNC Greensboro has appointed Dr. Jing Deng to the position of associate dean.
Previously, Deng served as head of the Department of Computer Science, a position he held for the past five years. Deng joins the rest of the CAS leadership team led by Interim Dean Amy Adamson. Dr. Scott Romine of the English Department had been serving as the interim associate dean for the past six months.
“I am so pleased to welcome Dr. Deng to the Dean’s Office,” said Adamson. “As the head of our Computer Science Department, Dr. Deng brings a wealth of administrative experience, along with a considerable background in graduate studies from his years as a graduate program director. Jing is also a model teacher-scholar, having been named the Bank of America Distinguished Professor last year.”
Deng’s first day was July 1, 2024. His duties as associate dean include managing the College’s graduate programs, coordinating its physical spaces on campus, and ensuring the College’s winter and summer academic schedules are complete and meeting demands.
First joining UNCG as an assistant professor in 2008, Deng has held a variety of leadership positions throughout his tenure. From 2016-2019, he served as graduate program director for Computer Science, providing a solid foundation for this new role.
“The experience as graduate program director was tremendously helpful for me to understand how graduate programs function and how the Dean’s Office and the Graduate School coordinate in policymaking and in graduate assistantship allocation decisions,” said Deng.
Deng also played a pivotal part in bringing the new Computer Science PhD program to fruition. Launched in fall of 2022, the PhD in computer science has seen steady growth over the past two years and promises to fill a statewide need for this rapidly growing area of scholarship and employment.
The Department’s B.S. program, in particular, also saw strong growth under Deng’s leadership. Moreover, he shares that he has always been proud of computer science faculty’s research accomplishments, including their impressive publication records, grant proposals, and research fundings.
On top of his administrative feats, Deng is also a committed teacher-scholar — meaning he brings the excitement of his research into his teaching and mentorship of students. In 2023, Deng was named the Bank of America Distinguished Professor, recognizing his robust scholarly contributions and commitment to student success. His research on wireless networks has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force, and other major institutions. He is among the top 2% most-cited researchers in the world.
“As a professor, I have been fortunate to remain active in my research and to collaborate with so many faculty members in my department and across the College,” said Deng. “I plan to maintain the teacher-scholar model in my new role by continuing my research productivity while advising computer science students on their research.”
Deng shares that he is excited for this new role with CAS.
“It’s an honor for me to have a chance to work with all the heads and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences,” he said. “We are facing some uncertainties. I look forward to helping CAS maintain its vibrant research and strategic educational goals in the face of these circumstances.”
Story by Elizabeth Keri, College of Arts & Sciences