Congratulations to ACM Fellow Dana Randall!
By Dr Adriana Wilde
We are thrilled to celebrate Regents’ Professor Dana Randall from Georgia Tech, who has been recently named an ACM Fellow for her transformative contributions to computing science and technology. As Associate Dean for Access and Advancement in the College of Computing and a Computer Science Professor with an adjunct appointment in the School of Mathematics, Dana’s interdisciplinary research bridges computer science, discrete mathematics, and statistical physics. Her pioneering work in the theory of Markov chains and programmable active matter has significantly advanced our understanding of randomised algorithms and stochastic processes.
Beyond her research, Dana has played pivotal leadership roles, including co-founding and serving as the inaugural co-executive director of Georgia Tech’s Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS), directing the Algorithms and Randomness Center, and as the former ADVANCE Professor of Computing. Her dedication to mentorship and education is evident in her guidance of numerous PhD students who have gone on to impactful careers in academia and industry.
Dana’s recognition as an ACM Fellow honours her achievements and highlights the profound impact of interdisciplinary research in computing.
ACM-W: Could you share how you first became interested in computing and mathematics? Were there any pivotal experiences or mentors who helped guide your path into theoretical computer science?
Dana: I attended a math/science high school in NYC that helped me discover the joy and playfulness of math – not necessarily from my classes, but from the math team, which met daily, creative math summer programs, and a critical mass of bright students who were curious and driven. In contrast, computer science seemed far more tedious, and I entered college eager to study math and possibly physics. However, during a summer internship at Bell Labs, originally about a number theory question that failed to spark my interest, my mentor explored different topics by presenting a new gem each day, ultimately leading to my deep interest in discrete math and theoretical computer science. After a mere three computer science courses in college (intro programming, intro theory, and a graduate course on randomized algorithms), I was hooked and knew I wanted to pursue a PhD in computer science.
ACM-W: Your research focuses on algorithms, randomness, and combinatorics. What excites you most about working at the intersection of these areas, and how do you see them evolving in the years ahead?
Dana: My dissertation was on the design and analysis of efficient Markov chains for sampling and approximate counting, falling squarely at the interface of algorithms, combinatorics and discrete probability. Around this time, researchers began to notice striking parallels between statistical physics and computer science — while physicists looked at scaling limits to identify phase changes, computer scientists were noticing local algorithms undergoing similar abrupt changes from polynomial to exponential time on finite versions of the same problems. This led to many interesting discoveries that brought deep, physical insights into algorithms and shed new light on physics by adding a new computational perspective. Witnessing this transformation was as interesting as the math itself, and now it’s impossible to study this class of randomized algorithms without building on these critical interdisciplinary insights.
ACM-W: Your institution is the home of many ACM Fellows like yourself, including Ellen Zegura, John Stasko, and, more recently, Thad Starner. What would you say are the main ingredients for a strong research environment in our discipline, and how can others replicate that success?
Dana: Georgia Tech is highly committed to fostering interdisciplinary research, despite the inconveniences and messiness that arise from coordinating between departments, colleges, and research centers. The people you mention are all outstanding researchers who have pushed the boundaries of their fields and have also had an impact across multiple disciplines. Georgia Tech has created a culture that fosters such exploration through interdisciplinary research institutes (“IRI”s), joint degrees, and acceptance that spanning units often means being located away from faculty and staff in one’s home department. When I started at Georgia Tech, at the joint between Maths and CS, such positions were less common and more complicated to navigate, especially for junior faculty. Now these positions are common, and every corner of Georgia Tech enjoys exciting blends of expertise and unique foci.
ACM-W: You’ve mentored many students and junior researchers. What qualities do you believe make for a great mentor, and how can we build more supportive communities for emerging talent in computing?
Dana: Successful mentorship stems from genuinely wanting to help others succeed and meeting them where they are. It takes thinking about the strengths, interests, and challenges of the people being mentored, while also considering their personal circumstances. One of my PhD students had two children while working on her dissertation; my current postdoctoral researcher requires working remotely part-time due to a two-body constraint. My role as their mentor evolved from a professional relationship to one that helped them flourish both professionally and personally. Mentorship is a great way to give back and create the type of supportive community that takes the time to reflect and improve, including creating multiple means for getting mentorship and finding ways to mentor the mentors!
ACM-W: You’ve built a remarkable career while also contributing significantly to outreach and diversity efforts. How have you managed to balance these commitments, and what strategies have helped you maintain a healthy work-life integration?
Dana: Starting my career in a joint position across STEM departments, including one with just a single woman on the faculty, meant I was asked to serve on lots of committees. I learned early on to say no, but, importantly, I also learned to say yes. Saying yes meant getting a broad perspective on how my university works at many levels. Saying yes externally gave me insight into the broader community and helped me form many professional connections. While it’s important to protect one’s time and be selfish in order to succeed, saying yes opens doors in surprising ways. This is also true for invitations to speak or attend meetings in fields outside of my own. It’s not always obvious that there is a personal benefit, but more times than not I end up learning something that enriches my own thinking and objectives.
Thank you very much for this interview, Dana, and congratulations once again!