Dr. Bernadette Boscoe
Assistant Professor
PhD, Information Science, UCLA, 2019; MS, Mathematics, California State University, Northridge, 2013; AS, Computer Science, Northampton Community College, Bethlehem PA, BFA Painting, Pratt Institute, 1993
Dr. Boscoe’s primary research is scientific computing infrastructures, where she studies hardware and software components and how researchers use them to keep data alive over time. She currently collaborates with astrophysicists using machine learning to study galaxy formation; more information can be found here.
Dr. Boscoe develops and teaches courses in data science/analytics, web development, machine learning, and core programming courses in C++ and Python. She is involved with the research software engineering community (US-RSE), and supports the development of career paths for undergraduates to pursue research software engineer and data scientist opportunities. Prior to her work at UCLA, Dr. Boscoe was a research and instructional technologist at Cornell University, and before that was a web developer/full stack engineer. In her free time she is an avid film buff and consults on film scheduling software.
Office: Computing Services 217
Phone: 541.552.8334
E-Mail: boscoeb@sou.edu
Dian Brandenburg
Instructor of Computer Science
MS, Mathematics & Computer Science, Southern Oregon University, 1996; BS, Business Administration, California State University, Chico, 1992; AA, Accounting, Shasta Community College, 1989
Dian has been an instructor in Computer Science and Business at SOU since 1996, teaching courses in web development, applications, and databases. She is a designer, creator, and teacher of online and hybrid courses, who has organized and implemented structured learning processes and strategies for student success. Dian is also a local computer consultant, web designer, and database designer, working with companies both in the Rogue Valley and farther afield. She was recently selected to participate in Argosy University’s One Focus Project, aimed at improving curriculum and course facilitation, and at developing retention strategies and training materials, for courses in Information Literacy and Communication.
Office: N/A
Phone: 541.621.8656
E-Mail: BrandenD@sou.edu
Dr. Daniel DeFreez
Assistant Professor
PhD, Computer Science, University of California, Davis 2019; MS, Computer Science, Southern Oregon University, 2012; BS, Sociology, University of Oregon, 2006
Dr. DeFreez is interested in program analysis, software correctness, computer security, and the application of machine learning to code, with a particular emphasis on systems software. He has published in top software engineering conferences, including the ACM Joint European Software Engineering Conference and Symposium on the Foundations of Software Engineering (ESEC/FSE), the International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), and Principles and Practice of Parallel Programming (PPoPP). He has designed and implemented static analysis tools that have found hundreds of bugs in open-source software projects, including OpenSSL and the Linux kernel. He is an active member of the computer security community and has been participating in industry security conferences for more than a decade. Dr. DeFreez joined the Southern Oregon University faculty in 2019.
Office: CS 218
Phone: 541.552.6135
E-Mail: defreezd@sou.edu
Eping Hung
Instructor of Computer Science
MS, Educational Technology, Michigan State University, 2021
Eping Hung is an instructor in the CS department at SOU. Previously, he spent 15 years in industry as a software engineer and then 7 years as a CS instructor for 1st through 8th grades. Mr. Hung completed a masters in educational technology in 2021 at Michigan State University and worked as a graduate assistant for their CT4EDU project (CNS-1738677)(CT4EDU, n.d.). He also serves as coPI on a recently funded NSF CSforAll grant to integrate computational thinking into K-5 classrooms. He lives in Ashland with his physician wife, teenage daughter, and needy cat, where he enjoys outdoor running, indoor cooking, and everywhere streaming in his spare time. And once in a great while, when the stars are in alignment, he actually picks up a physical book to read.
Office: CS 220
Phone: 541.552.8858
E-Mail: hunge@sou.edu
Priscilla Oppenheimer
Instructor of Computer Science
MS, Information Science, University of Michigan, 1980; BA, English, Kalamazoo College, 1978
Priscilla is an educator, instructional designer, author, and computer networking consultant, with over 30 years of industry experience. She has designed and taught courses in networking, security, computer forensics, and ethical and legal issues in information technology at SOU since 2003, and is currently one of the faculty members who oversees the department’s Capstone sequence. She is the designer and manager of the CS department’s cyber-security research lab. As a technical instructor for Cisco Systems, Priscilla developed and taught classes on computer networking and security, and has been an instructor of network engineers worldwide in the design, development, configuration, and support of complex and secure computer networks. She was previously a software engineer and networking technologies trainer for Apple, and is the co-founder of a foundation dedicated to supporting scientific research and education in the intersecting fields of genetics, molecular biology, and computer science.
More information on her writing and work can be found here.
Office: CS 220
Phone: 541.552.8186
E-Mail: oppenheip@sou.edu
Dr. David Pouliot
Assistant Professor
PhD, Computer Science, Portland State University, 2020; BS, Computer Science, Western Oregon University, 2013; BS, Mathematics, Lewis-Clark State College, 1996.
Dr. Pouliot’s primary research field is applied cryptography focusing on searchable encryption attacks and defenses. He has published and implemented new searchable encryption techniques aimed at providing the best compromise of security, performance, and deployability. He has also researched software vulnerability checking with symbolic execution, implementing novel techniques that improve the practical use of symbolic execution in larger programs. He has many other computer security interests, including participating in Cybersecurity capture the flag events. He has also been involved in computer science youth education, teaching Lego robotics, Java, Minecraft Modding, Python and Scratch to kids from elementary school through high school. In his spare time he enjoys designing and building woodworking projects and whitewater kayaking.
Office: CS 222
Phone: 541.552.6341
E-Mail: pouliotd@sou.edu
Dr. Maggie Vanderberg
Associate Professor, Chair
PhD, Computer Science, West Virginia University, 2010; MS, Computer Science, West Virginia University, 2006; BS, Computer Science, Minor, Mathematics, Minor, Information Knowledge Management, James Madison University, 2003
Dr. Vanderberg joined the faculty in 2018, developing and teaching courses in web development, advanced databases, and operating systems. Currently, she is one of the faculty members overseeing the department’s Capstone sequence. She has conducted research on software quality assurance, safety, and reliability at NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation Facility in Fairmont, WV. As a software and database architect for KeyLogic Systems, she developed software assurance and quality engineering courses for the NASA Software and Mission Assurance Technical Excellence Program, and supported multiple projects for the Department of Energy’s National Energy and Technology Laboratory. She has also worked as a software engineer for Fairfield Language Technologies and was previously an instructor in the School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems at Northern Arizona University. Her recent research efforts focus on increasing diversity in the fields of computer science and engineering. She is a lover of outdoor activity, particularly of climbing, biking, trail running, and snowboarding. More information can be found at her website here.
Office: CS 219
Phone: 541.552.6974
E-Mail: vanderbem@sou.edu
Emeritus Faculty
Dr. Lynn Ackler
Dr. George Converse
Dr. Dan Harvey
Dr. Lee Hill
Dr. Ken Larsen
Pete Nordquist
Dr. Richard Peddicord
Greg Pleva
Dr. Kevin Sahr
Contact Computer Science
SOU Computer Science Program
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6148
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