We are pleased to announce that the 2023 Susan Dean CCSC Distinguished Service Award recipient is Dr. Brent Wilson awarded at the CCSC Annual Business Meeting on March 17, 2023, in Toronto, ONT, Canada. Professor Wilson has made significant contributions to CCSC over the years and has been a driving force in the Pacific Northwest region. His mentorship and dedication to CCSC have left a lasting impact on many members of the community.
From left: Scott Sigman, Brent Wilson. Brent Wilson was unable to be at the CCSC Annual Business Meeting in Toronto to accept this award. It was presented to him by CCSC President Scott Sigman at the CCSC Northwestern Conference on October 13, 2023.
Brent Wilson
As a mentor to many in the field of computer science, Dr. Brent Wilson has been instrumental in introducing and encouraging participation in the CCSC community at both the regional and national levels. He has been a prominent figure in CCSC:Northwest for many years, and his efforts to increase participation and membership have led to the growth of the organization. His availability and guidance have led many members to take on leadership roles, including conference planning committees. According to a colleague, “Brent is CCSC:NW.”
Brent also has been a tireless advocate and supporter of the national CCSC community, serving as a member of the Board of Directors for more than a decade. He frequently delivered compelling speeches at regional meetings talking about how valuable CCSC is and encouraging participation in any way possible. He compiled lists of all CS faculty at northwest colleges and universities and would send them emails with calls for papers and calls for participation to increase membership and attendance at the conferences. His efforts have helped to build a strong, supportive community of Computer Science educators and researchers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
In addition to his involvement with CCSC, Brent has made significant contributions to Computer Science education in the Pacific Northwest region. He has been the site chair for the ICPC NorthWest programming competition for many years and started the cybersecurity concentration at George Fox University, one of the first in the region. He has also collaborated with many international universities, bringing students from all over the world to George Fox. Brent’s contributions over 30 years to the academic department that he founded have been immeasurable. He has taught every Computer Science student at George Fox University at some point in their studies and has taught almost every CS course in the university’s catalog. His expertise, dedication, and passion for the field of Computer Science have inspired generations of students to pursue careers in the field.
Beyond his contributions to the professional and academic communities, Brent has also been a generous volunteer in his personal life. He volunteers at his church, and he has been a dedicated volunteer for the Special Olympics, demonstrating his commitment to improving the lives of those around him.
Professor Wilson’s dedication to CCSC and Computer Science education in general is truly remarkable, and he is a well-respected leader in the field. His passion for CCSC has inspired many to become more involved and has led to the growth of the organization. We are grateful for his many years of service to CCSC and are honored to present him with the CCSC Susan Dean Distinguished Service Award. Congratulations, Brent!