Dean F. Hougen

Dean F. Hougen is the Lloyd and Joyce Austin Presidential Professor and Director of the School of Computer Science at the University of Oklahoma, within the Gallogly College of Engineering. He also holds affiliations with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Data Science and Analytics Institute, and has served as Interim Director and Associate Director of the School of Computer Science. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, and distributed systems, conducted in labs like the Robotic Intelligence and Machine Learning Laboratory and the Artificial Intelligence Research (AIR) SuperLab. Key areas include evolutionary computation, autonomous systems, and applied AI in healthcare and transportation. He has led over $24M in grants, including projects on intelligent aerospace systems, pandemic monitoring, and robotics for infrastructure safety. Notable awards include the Presidential Professorship, multiple best paper awards, and recognition for teaching excellence. Hougen has advised numerous students and contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives, including the CS INCLUDES program supporting Indigenous learners. His work spans academic leadership, industry collaborations, and advancing AI applications across domains.