Rate My Professor Ann Gates

Dr. Ann Q. Gates is a Professor of Computer Science and Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). She earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from New Mexico State University in 1994, M.S. in Computer Science from UTEP in 1990, and B.S. in Mathematics and Biological Sciences from UTEP in 1970. Gates joined UTEP in 1994 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science, advancing to Associate Professor and Associate Chair from 2001 to 2005, and Professor and Chair from 2005 to 2008 and 2012 to 2020. She served as Associate Vice President for Research and Sponsored Projects from 2008 to 2012. Additionally, she is the Executive Director of the Computing Alliance of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI), a NSF INCLUDES alliance focused on the recruitment, retention, and advancement of Hispanics in computing, and past Director of the Cyber-ShARE Center of Excellence, which advanced collaborative science through cyberinfrastructures supporting interdisciplinary research and team-based learning.

Gates specializes in software engineering, with research on runtime verification, formal specification of software properties, software-fault monitoring, and data quality assurance for high-consequence systems. Her work includes developing technologies using properties to detect conflicts and errors during execution. Notable publications are 'A Taxonomy and Catalog of Runtime Software-Fault Monitoring Tools' (2004, IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering), 'The Affinity Research Group Model: Creating and Maintaining Effective Research Teams' (2008), and 'Affinity Research Groups in Practice: Apprenticing Students in Research' (2013, Journal of Engineering Education). She pioneered the Affinity Research Group model, promoting inclusive research teams and student persistence, adopted beyond CAHSI. Her leadership has secured major NSF grants, including $9.9 million for CAHSI and others for broadening participation. Awards include the 2021 Alfredo G. de los Santos Jr. Distinguished Leadership Award, 2015 Great Minds in STEM Education Award and A. Nico Habermann Award, 2010 Anita Borg Institute Social Impact Award, 2009 Richard A. Tapia Achievement Award, and 2005 IEEE-CS Golden Core Award. Gates has contributed to editorial boards and committees such as NSF Advisory Committee for Cyberinfrastructure, Naval Research Advisory Committee (2016-2018), and multiple National Academies committees on STEM education and diversity.