Seattle University has named Dr. Burkhard Englert as the new Department Chair and Amazon Endowed Chair of Computer Science. Englert, who is currently the computer science department chair at Norfolk State University in Virginia and has previously held leadership roles at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, California State University Long Beach, and the University of Northern Colorado, will start his new position on July 1. His research has focused on cybersecurity, machine learning, distributed computing, distributed algorithms, and transportation network modeling and optimization. Amazon began supporting the position in 2021 after the departure of the university’s former computer science chair, Roshanak Roshandel, who left for a job at Amazon. Englert will replace the current computer science department chair, Steve Hanks.
Seattle University’s renovated Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation, which opened in 2021, received a $3 million contribution from Amazon. This center will likely serve as a hub for computer science research and education under Englert’s leadership. Other significant personnel changes across the Pacific Northwest include Douglas Williams resigning as executive vice president and president of research and development at Seattle biotech company Sana, citing personal reasons for his departure. Williams has previously held leadership positions at Codiak BioSciences and ZymoGenetics. Additionally, Seattle-based law firm Davis Wright Tremaine has named Wendy Kearns as its new partner-in-charge. Kearns, who started her career as a software developer, joined the firm in 2013 and most recently served as chair of its technology practice. She previously worked as an attorney for Microsoft and will be replacing Pete Johnson as the firm’s new partner-in-charge.
Dr. Burkhard Englert, the incoming Department Chair and Amazon Endowed Chair of Computer Science at Seattle University, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in cybersecurity, machine learning, distributed computing, distributed algorithms, and transportation network modeling and optimization to his new role. With a background in leadership from multiple universities, Englert is well-equipped to lead the computer science department at Seattle U. Amazon’s support for this position, following the departure of the former chair to the company, indicates a continued investment in education and technology in the region. The university’s recently renovated science and innovation center, made possible in part by Amazon’s contribution, will likely serve as a state-of-the-art facility for research and education in computer science.
In addition to the changes at Seattle University, significant personnel shifts have occurred at other organizations in the Pacific Northwest. Douglas Williams’ resignation as executive vice president and president of research and development at Seattle biotech company Sana represents a personal decision. Williams, who previously held leadership positions at Codiak BioSciences and ZymoGenetics, has a strong background in the biotech industry. Meanwhile, Wendy Kearns’ appointment as partner-in-charge at Davis Wright Tremaine brings a technology-focused perspective to the law firm. Kearns, who previously worked as an attorney at Microsoft, joined the firm in 2013 and most recently led its technology practice. Kearns’ leadership at the firm may signal a strategic focus on technology-related legal services.
The appointment of Dr. Burkhard Englert as the new Department Chair and Amazon Endowed Chair of Computer Science at Seattle University marks a new chapter for the university’s computer science department. With his background in cybersecurity, machine learning, distributed computing, and transportation network modeling and optimization, Englert is well-positioned to lead the department into the future. Amazon’s support for this position, following the departure of the former chair to the company, underscores the importance of industry-academic partnerships in fostering innovation. The renovated science and innovation center, made possible by Amazon’s funding, is expected to serve as a cutting-edge facility for computer science research and education.
The leadership changes at Seattle University and other organizations in the Pacific Northwest highlight the dynamic nature of the region’s technology and biotech sectors. Douglas Williams’ departure from Sana and Wendy Kearns’ appointment at Davis Wright Tremaine represent key moves in these industries. Williams’ decision to resign for personal reasons underscores the balance between personal and professional factors in career decisions. Kearns’ transition from a software developer to an attorney and now to a law firm leader showcases the diverse career paths available in the technology and legal fields. These personnel changes contribute to the evolving landscape of technology and innovation in the Pacific Northwest.
