Dean Lynn Stauffer's Biography

Dr. Lynn Stauffer, Interim Dean
Professor of Computer Science
School of Science and Technology
Sonoma State University

Dr. Lynn Stauffer received her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science as well as a second B.S. in Mathematics from the University of California at Irvine. Her doctoral work considered the design and analysis of algorithms and data structures with a focus in the fields of data compression and parallel computation. In 1994 she joined Sonoma State's School of Science and Technology faculty as the first female professor in the Department of Computer Science. Her research interests broadened to include undergraduates in projects from the subfields of computer programming languages, expert systems, database design, computer science education and computational geometry. Within the department she formed the Women in Computer Science group at SSU and was also the founding faculty advisor to the SSU Student Chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery She was promoted to full professor in 2004.

Dr. Stauffer received the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2006. Also in 2006, Dr. Stauffer was appointed Chair of the Computer Science Department. Under her leadership, the department implemented a sweeping redesign of its curriculum and moved into new office and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.

Dr. Stauffer was appointed the Interim Dean of the School of Science and Technology in 2010. She served as the Director of Academic Resources and Planning for the School of Science and Technology for the two years prior to her appointment as Interim Dean. Her background and experience includes her service as the Chair of the School Curriculum Committee and her role as coordinator of the School of Science and Technology/Sonoma County Office of Education Summer High School Internship Program. In addition, Dr. Stauffer served as the founding Director the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program at Sonoma State University.

The School of Science and Technology includes nine departments of biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering science, geology, kinesiology, mathematics & statistics, nursing, and physics & astronomy. In addition to a $7.4 million annual budget, the School of Science and Technology leverages approximately $2.5 million of grants and contracts funding awarded to SST faculty and staff.