Linda Ott

Linda Ott is a Professor of Computer Science at Michigan Technological University (MTU), where she has held roles including Department Chair of Computer Science (1996–2010 and 2019–2022) and Associate Dean for Special Initiatives (2015–2018). She earned her PhD, MS, and BS in Computer Science from Purdue University (1978, 1974, 1972).

• Education: Purdue University (PhD 1978, MS 1974, BS 1972)
• Research Focus: Software engineering (processes, measurement), computing education, diversity initiatives, and student retention in CS.
• Professional Contributions: Founded the Michigan Celebration of Women in Computing, led NCWIT Extension Services teams, and received awards like the ACM SIGSOFT Retrospective Paper Award (2010) and NCWIT Transformation Award (2020).

Her research spans software metrics, education strategies for inclusivity, and curriculum development. Ott has advised numerous students and co-authored over $1.5M in grants. She taught abroad as a Fulbright Scholar in Russia (2012) and China (2011).

Grants and Awards: Over $1.5M in grants, including NSF and NCWIT-funded projects. Awards highlight her contributions to software engineering and diversity in computing.

Teaching & Service: Taught courses ranging from introductory programming to advanced software engineering. Served on university committees, advised student organizations, and mentored junior faculty.