Education

• Ph.D. in Computer Science. The University of Michigan. 1990.
          Thesis Area in Artificial Intelligence.
  
• Master of Science in Computer Science. The University of Michigan. 1987.
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The Ohio State University. 1985.
          Summa Cum Laude. Minors in German and Mathematics.

Experience

• Founding Director, Gianforte School of Computing. Montana State University. Bozeman, Montana. August 2016 - present.
  
• Computer Science Department Head. Montana State University. Bozeman, Montana. August 2007 - August 2016.
  
• Computer Science Professor. Montana State University. Bozeman, Montana.
          Professor. July 2003 - present.
          Associate Professor. July 1996 - June 2003.
          Assistant Professor. September 1990 - June 1996.
• Study Abroad Instructor. Université Lumière Lyon 2. Lyon, France. Summer Semester 2025.
• Study Abroad Instructor. Free Univeristy of Berlin. Berlin, Germany. Summer Semester 2023.
• Study Abroad Instructor. Technical University of Vienna. Vienna, Austria. Summer Semester 2017.
• Dual Enrollment Instructor - Joy and Beauty of Data. Bozeman High School. Bozeman, Montana. Spring Semester 2017.
• Study Abroad Instructor. Hochschule Ravensburg-Weingarten. Weingarten, Germany. Summer Semester 2014.
• Dual Enrollment Instructor - Joy and Beauty of Computing. Bozeman High School. Bozeman, Montana. Spring Semester 2014.
• Study Abroad Instructor. Kyoto University. Kyoto, Japan. Summer Semester 2011.
• Study Abroad Instructor. The University of Leipzig. Leipzig, Germany. Summer Semester 2008.
• Fulbright Professor. The University of Leipzig. Leipzig, Germany. Winter Semester 2006 - 2007.
• Visiting Instructor. Al-Akhawayn University. Ifrane, Morocco. April 2007, April 1995.
• Study Abroad Instructor. National University of Ireland. Galway, Ireland. Summer Semester 2005.
• Visiting Instructor. Massey University. Auckland, New Zealand. July 2004 - August 2004.
• Visiting Instructor. Don Bosco University. Soyapango, El Salvador. July 2003 - August 2003.
• Invited Speaker. University of Tamaulipas. Tampico, Mexico. October 1999.
• Consultant. Reticular Systems, Inc. San Diego, California. May 1996 - June 1996.
• Teaching Assistant. The University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sept. 1985 - June 1990.
          Outstanding Teaching Assistant - 1988.

Academic Service

• 2019-present: Director, Gianforte School of Computing
• 2021-present: Gianforte Hall Program Work Group
• 2016-present: oSTEM Chapter Advisor, Montana State
• 2007-2019: Department Head, Computer Science

Research Interests

• Computer Science Education
• International Education
• Machine Learning
• Artificial Intelligence

Awards

• oSTEM national Advisor of the Year: 2023
• Lavender Leader Award: 2019
• College of Engineering Excellence in Advancing Diversity Award: 2018
• College of Engineering Excellence in Teaching Award: 2013
• Anna K. Fridley Award for Distinguished Teaching: 2009.
• Fulbright Award: 2006.
• President's Award for Excellence in Teaching: 2005.
• Outstanding Computer Science Instructor Award: 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006.
• Alumni Association/Chamber of Commerce/Founder's Day Award for Excellence (Mentor):
      1995, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021, 2023, 2025, 2026.

Recent Publications and Presentations

• Paxton, J., Castillon, I. and Nazemi, N. CS Course: Artificial Intelligence for Everyone, MSU Interdisciplinary Institute on AI Faculty Symposium, Bozeman MT, March 2026. Presenter.
• Sanders, G., Paxton J., Blackler, K. and How, J. Reshaping Tech-based Learning Through Student-centered Priorities, Society for College and University Planning Conference, Seattle WA, March 2024. Panelist and Workshop Facilitator.
• Cook, E., Fasy, B., O'Shea, C., Paxton, J. and Qunell, S. Computer Science Integration Panel Discussion, Montana Science Summer Institute 2021, Virtual Conference. August 2021. Panel Moderator.
• Crooks, H., Guenther, C., Oleson, L., Paxton, J., Renfro, M. and Rutten, K. LGBTQ+ College Student Advice for Younger Students, Teachers and Parents, 2021 Rainbows Over the Rockies Virtual Conference, Bozeman, MT. March 2021. Panel Moderator.
• Paxton, J. Recruiting and Retaining Female CS Majors. International Women's Day 2020 Summit. Bozeman, MT. March 2020. Presentation.
• Hughes, B., Paxton, J., Kwapisz, M. and Rutten, K. Out in the Mountain West: Cultivating an oSTEM Chapter at Montana State University. oSTEM 2019 Annual Conference. Detroit, MI. November 2019. Panel Session.
• Brodley, C., et. al. Creating Institutional Homes for Computing: Transforming a Department into a School or College. Computing Research Association White Paper. April 2019. [pdf]
• Camp, T., Fizzano, P., Paxton, J. and Quinn, B. Your CS/IT Program's Culture: An Academic Alliance "Living Resource" Workshop. NCWIT Summit. Grapevine, TX. May 2018. Panel Sesssion.
• Seifert, T., O'Neill, T., Ziebarth, C., Paxton, J., Carpenter C. and Onuoha E. What Matters is the Learning: Creating Student-Centered Environments to Spark Discovery and Engagement. International Conference on Learning, Teaching and Student Success. Bozeman, MT. November 2016. Panel Session.
• Johnson, C., Bryant, R., Gupta, R., LeBlanc, R., Paxton, J. and Schnabel, B. Schools and Colleges of Computing. CRA Conference. Snowbird, UT. July 2016. Panel Session.
• Paxton, J. and Gunderson-Izurieta, S. Transforming Culture with Inspirational Space. NCWIT Summit on Women and IT. Hilton Head, SC. May 2015. Unposter Session.
• Paxton, J. Inspirational Space as a Mechanism to Transform Departmental Culture. 32nd Academic Chairpersons Conference. Austin, TX, February 2015.
• Williams, A., Cobb, K. and Paxton, J. Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships: Delivering High-Need, High-Speed CTE. National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) National Conference. Chicago IL, October 2014. Panel Presentation.
• Ellsworth, A. and Paxton, J. Trailblazing Models for Dual Enrollment Courses in Montana. 25th International Conference on College Teaching and Learning. Ponte Vedra Beach FL, March 2014.
• Paxton, J. and Ellsworth, A. Expanding Dual Enrollment in Montana. 25th International Conference on College Teaching and Learning. Ponte Vedra Beach FL, March 2014. Poster.
• Paxton, J., Sherick, H. and Marley, R. An International Engineering Certificate: Incentivizing Engineering Students to Pursue Global Experiences. Frontiers in Education Conference, Seattle WA, October 2012.
• Paxton, J. Hitting the Ground Running: Making Strategic Changes. The Department Chair, Volume 21, Number 3, Winter 2011.
• Mead, R., Paxton, J. and Sojda, R. New Software Methods in Radar Ornithology Using WSR-88D Weather Data and Potential Application to Monitoring Effects of Climate Change on Bird Migration. iEMSs 2010: International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software. Ottawa, Canada. July 2010.
• Paxton, J. Hitting the Ground Running: Making Strategic Changes. 27th Annual Academic Chairpersons Conference. Orlando, Florida. February 2010.

Recent Grant Involvement

• Pivotal Ventures grant, $351K. PI with Neda Nazemi (co-PI) and Iliana Castillon (co-PI), $351,000 (PI). Increasing Participation in Computing, Fall 2025 - Fall 2028.
• US Economic Development Administration, $6,704. ClearCareAI: An Effective AI-Powered CPG Based Treatment. Assumed on behalf of Indika Kahada. Spring 2020 - Fall 2020.
• US Fish & Wildlife Service grant, $100,110. PI with Rick Sojda. Futures Analysis of Landscape Conservation and Greater Sage-Grouse, Their Habitats, and Anthropogenic Influences from Energy Development. Fall 2013 - Fall 2015.
• NASA EPScOR grant with Rafal Angryk (PI), Petrus Martens (co-PI) and Tim Olson (Institutional PI at Salish Kootenai College), $1,125,032. Co-I. Large-Scale Content-based Image Retrieval System (CBIR) for Interactive Search through the Virtual Solar Observatory (VSO). Summer 2011 - Summer 2015.
• NREL grant with Rick Sojda, $53,929. Investigating Whether Artificial Intelligence Can Be Used to Detect Birds in Nexrad Data. Spring 2008 - Summer 2010.