Rebecca Bruce, Ph.D.

Professor of Computer Science and Interim Program Director of Engineering

Contact Information

    Bio

    Rebecca Bruce is a Professor of Computer Science with a background in electro-mechanical systems. After receiving a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford and thirteen years of industry experience, she returned to school to pursue her interests in Artificial Intelligence. She received her MS and PhD in Computer Science from New Mexico State University. Since that time she has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and has been awarded (as PI or Co-PI) over 1.5 million dollars in research funding. Her current interests include technology applied to creative expression. Jointly with Susan Reiser, she has developed several classes focused on creative applications of engineering and computer technology including Electric Origami, Creative Fabrication, Robotics, and Tangible Computing.

    Education

    • Ph.D. Computer Science, New Mexico State University
    • M.S. Computer Science, New Mexico State University
    • Professional Engineer, State of North Carolina
    • M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University
    • B.S. with Honors Civil Engineering, University of Texas at El Paso

    Select Courses

    • CSCI 255 Computer Organization
    • CSCI 320 Computer Architecture
    • CSCI 182 Intro to Programming
    • JEM 123 Computer-Aided Design
    • JEM 360 Advanced Mechatronics Design
    • JEM 180 Intro to Mechatronics Lab

    Professional Interests

    Embedded systems, robotics, various Artificial Intelligence endeavors, and K-12 outreach

    Recent Publications

    • Brock, J. D., & Bruce, R., (forthcoming). POWER LABS Teaching Sustainability in a Computer Organization Class.  Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges – Proceeding of the Thirtieth Annual Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges Southeast Conference (CCSC SE 2016), Volume 32, Number 2, December, 2016.
    • Reiser, S., Bruce, R., Martin, J., & Skidmore, B. (forthcoming). Making: An Interdisciplinary Assistive Technology Project, ACM Transactions on Graphics (TOG) - Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH 2016, Volume 35, Issue 4, July 2016, ACM New York, NY, USA.
    • Reiser, S., & Bruce, R., (2016). Making a Computing in the Arts Community. In Proceedings of Envisioning the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education (EnFUSE) Symposium (sponsored by AAAS and NSF), Washington DC, April 27-29, 2016.
    • Bruce, R., & Reiser, S., (2016). Projects By Design: A Template. In Proceedings of IEEE SoutheastCon 2016, Norfolk, VA, March 31-April 3, 2016.
    • Reiser, S., & Bruce, R., (2016). Computing in the Arts: Multidisciplinary I (NSF project showcase). In Proceedings of the 47th SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education. Memphis, Tennessee, USA, March 2-5, 2016.
    • Reiser, S., Bruce, R., Berg J., & Manaris, B., (2016). Fostering Computational Creativity through Computing in the Arts: A Community of Educators (Birds-of-a-Feather). In Proceedings of the 47th SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education. Memphis, Tennessee, USA, March 2-5, 2016.
    • Bruce, R., & Reiser, S., (2015). Challenging Notions of Being Normal in the CS Classroom.  Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges – Proceeding of the Twenty-Ninth Annual Consortium for Computing in Small Colleges Southeast Conference (CCSC SE 2015), Volume 31, Number 2, December, 2015.
    • Brock, J, Bruce, R., & Reiser, S., (2015). Make Space for Pi, In Proceedings of IEEE SoutheastCon 2015, Ft Lauderdale, FL, April 9-12, 2015.
    • Reiser, S., & Bruce, R., (2015). E-Origami: An Interacive Bulldog, A Make Session at The Humanities and Technology Camp (THATCamp) 2015, New York, NY, February 9-10, 2015.

    Grants Awarded

    A TUES grant funded by NSF-DUE. Co-PI with Susan Reiser; part of a larger collaboration with College of Charleston and Wake Forest. Award: $119,000 over 3 years starting in 2013.

    Bruce, R. & Horne, J., “Performer Activated Mist and Light.” Funded by UNCA Summer Student/Faculty Partnership Research Grant, Award: $3900. 2008.

    Subcontract from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College to UNCA for the HUB project. Award: $23,000. January, 2006.

    “SIMVaC: Scientific Innovations in Numerical Modeling, Digital Visualization, and High Speed Connectivity in Western North Carolina,” Funded by the University of North Carolina Initiative for Computational Science, Computer Science, High Performance Computing and Information Systems for $600,000 over 2 years starting in 2004. PI: J. Stevens, co-PIs: R. Bruce, K. Moorhead, L. Dohse, A. Huang, D. Brock, J. Brownsmith, S. Reiser, G. Voos, M. Roden, P. Silvers, B. Etherton, L. Hodges, & D. Young.

    “Development of online Labs for a Java programming course,” Funded by University of North Carolina E-Learning initiative for $34,268 over one year (co-PI with Dean Brock) starting in 2002.

    Microsoft Academic Cooperative grant for software worth $36,685 in 2000 (jointly with Dean Brock and Charles Massey).

    “Decomposable Modeling in Natural Language Processing” Funded by Office of Naval Research for $300,000 over 3 years starting Jan 1999. (co-PI with Janyce Wiebe).

    “Methods For Category Classification Applied to Word-Sense Disambiguation and Discourse Analysis,” Funded by Office of Naval Research: for $515,000 over 3 years starting May 1995. (co-PI with Janyce Wiebe).

    Personal Web Page

    Note to UNC Asheville community:  Office hours are subject to change.