Illinois Institute of Technology, College of Computing, Dean

The Illinois Institute of Technology has named Nicole Beebe as its Dean of the College of Computing.

Beebe joins Illinois Tech from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where she served as assistant vice president in the Office of Research, the Melvin Lachman endowed chair, and professor of information systems and cybersecurity.

Beebe brings more than 25 years of industry, government, and academic experience in cybersecurity, as well as 17 years as a professor and administrator in higher education. During her tenure as chair of UTSA’s Department of Information Systems and Cyber Security (2019–23), she grew enrollment by 55 percent and led the launch of several new programs, including the university’s first fully online undergraduate degree in cybersecurity. In her roles leading research units at UTSA, Beebe has facilitated multimillion-dollar endowment campaigns and corporate sponsorship programs, as well as establishing a cybersecurity and analytics advisory board. Having spent her entire academic career at a Hispanic Serving Institution, with approximately 70 percent underrepresented student enrollment, Beebe is dedicated to ensuring that all students thrive in computing education.

Beebe holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a concentration in information technology from UTSA, an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University. She investigated computer crimes for the United States Air Force, both on active duty as a reservist, from 1998–2007, achieving the rank of major and serving as chief of Computer Investigations and Operations from 1999–2001. 

Read the full press release here.

Greg Esposito led this search with Courtney Cabansag.