Mark Holliday

Mark A. Holliday is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Western Carolina University (WCU), part of the College of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. (1986) and MS (1982) in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Virginia (1978). His academic roles include serving as Interim Department Head (2007-2009) and Commissioner of the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission (2023-present).

Research interests focus on enhancing student learning in computer systems, software development pedagogy, and grid computing concepts. Notable work includes developing memory diagrams for CS1 assessment and creating interactive animations for computer networking education. He has authored over 50 publications in journals like ACM Transactions and IEEE, covering topics such as parallel architecture performance, distributed systems, and educational frameworks.

Teaching responsibilities include courses like CS 352 (Programming Languages), CS 453 (Database Systems), and CS 495/496 (Capstone Projects). Holliday’s lab work includes the National Storm Surge Database and the Educational Times Database projects. He actively contributes to curriculum development through initiatives like the Consortium for Distributed Computing Education.