John Paxton
Gianforte School of Computing
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT 59717
406.994.4870
john DOT paxton AT montana DOT edu
https://www.cs.montana.edu/paxton/
Education
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Ph.D. in Computer Science. The University of Michigan. 1990.
Thesis Area in Artificial Intelligence.
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Master of Science in Computer Science. The University of Michigan. 1987.
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Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The Ohio State University. 1985.
Summa Cum Laude. Minors in German and Mathematics.
Experience
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Founding Director, Gianforte School of Computing.
Montana State University. Bozeman, Montana.
August 2016 - present.
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Computer Science Department Head.
Montana State University. Bozeman, Montana.
August 2007 - August 2016.
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Computer Science Professor.
Montana State University. Bozeman, Montana.
Professor. July 2003 - present.
Associate Professor. July 1996 - June 2003.
Assistant Professor. September 1990 - June 1996.
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Study Abroad Instructor.
Université Lumière Lyon 2. Lyon, France.
Summer Semester 2025.
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Study Abroad Instructor.
Free Univeristy of Berlin. Berlin, Germany.
Summer Semester 2023.
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Study Abroad Instructor.
Technical University of Vienna. Vienna, Austria.
Summer Semester 2017.
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Dual Enrollment Instructor - Joy and Beauty of Data.
Bozeman High School. Bozeman, Montana.
Spring Semester 2017.
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Study Abroad Instructor.
Hochschule Ravensburg-Weingarten. Weingarten, Germany.
Summer Semester 2014.
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Dual Enrollment Instructor - Joy and Beauty of Computing.
Bozeman High School. Bozeman, Montana.
Spring Semester 2014.
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Study Abroad Instructor.
Kyoto University. Kyoto, Japan.
Summer Semester 2011.
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Study Abroad Instructor.
The University of Leipzig. Leipzig, Germany.
Summer Semester 2008.
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Fulbright Professor.
The University of Leipzig. Leipzig, Germany.
Winter Semester 2006 - 2007.
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Visiting Instructor.
Al-Akhawayn University. Ifrane, Morocco.
April 2007, April 1995.
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Study Abroad Instructor.
National University of Ireland. Galway, Ireland.
Summer Semester 2005.
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Visiting Instructor.
Massey University. Auckland, New Zealand.
July 2004 - August 2004.
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Visiting Instructor.
Don Bosco University. Soyapango, El Salvador.
July 2003 - August 2003.
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Invited Speaker.
University of Tamaulipas. Tampico, Mexico.
October 1999.
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Consultant.
Reticular Systems, Inc. San Diego, California.
May 1996 - June 1996.
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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.
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Outstanding Computer Science Instructor Award:
1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006.
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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.