UTEP Appoints First Associate Vice President for Scientific Computing and AI
EL PASO, Texas (Jan. 8, 2025) — The University of Texas at El Paso has named Salamah Salamah, Ph.D., as its new Associate Vice President for Scientific Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI). A prominent leader in computing and cybersecurity, Salamah will play a pivotal role in advancing UTEP’s strategic research initiatives and developing its computing infrastructure to support innovation.
As the Associate Vice President for Scientific Computing and AI, Salamah will coordinate institution-wide efforts to promote interdisciplinary research, strengthen computing and AI capabilities and develop initiatives that address pressing societal challenges.
“The appointment of Professor Salamah Salamah as Associate Vice President reflects his exceptional expertise in advancing computational methods and leveraging his knowledge of utilizing AI to address complex grand challenges,” said Ahmad Itani, Ph.D., vice president for research and innovation. “Dr. Salamah has demonstrated the innovative vision and leadership necessary to drive multidisciplinary teams and achieve our strategic objectives in fostering and accelerating cutting-edge research and technology development."
Salamah, an endowed professor in UTEP’s Department of Computer Science, previously served as department chair from 2020 to 2024. Under his leadership, the department experienced significant growth, becoming one of the largest at the University. He spearheaded efforts that earned UTEP the prestigious designation of a National Security Agency (NSA) Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Operations and Cybersecurity Research. UTEP is now one of only 11 institutions nationwide to hold all three NSA CAE designations, placing the University among the elite in cybersecurity education and research.
One of Salamah’s most notable accomplishments includes leading the development of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Artificial Intelligence within the Computer Science Department. These programs, introduced in 2024, have expanded UTEP’s academic offerings and positioned the University as a leader in preparing students for careers in AI and related fields
Beyond departmental achievements, Salamah has been instrumental in fostering collaborations with industry, academia and government agencies such as the Army Research Lab and the NSA. His efforts have resulted in securing significant external funding and launching initiatives that enhance UTEP’s research capacity in computing and cybersecurity.
“I am honored to take on this new role at a time when scientific computing and artificial intelligence are reshaping the world,” said Salamah. “At UTEP, we have the talent, resources, and partnerships needed to lead in these transformative fields. I look forward to working across disciplines to advance impactful research and build the infrastructure necessary to empower our faculty and students.”
About The University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving university. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 25,000 students are Hispanic, and more than half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs at the only open-
Last Updated on January 08, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published January 08, 2025
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