Message from the Director
Welcome to the Allen School!
It’s my honor to lead the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington. When I was appointed Interim Director in the summer of 2026, I said that it was my “dream job,” and I meant it! Every day in this role, I have the opportunity to support the entire Allen School community in advancing world-changing research, educating thousands of students at the forefront of computing, and serving the state of Washington in the broadest possible sense.
Since I began my own journey in computer science roughly three decades ago, I’ve witnessed massive shifts in our field, from the rise of cloud computing, to the mobile revolution, to the artificial intelligence era. I remember when “shipping software” was literal – it was printed on CDs, put into boxes, and sent to stores. What makes this field so exciting is that it never stands still! Computer scientists and computer engineers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what technology can do and developing solutions to society’s most pressing problems.
With tremendous support from the State Legislature over the last decade, we’ve been able to massively expand our capacity, particularly for Washington state residents. More than 600 undergraduate and 200 graduate students earn their degree from the Allen School every year — including many students who may not have grown up picturing themselves as computer scientists or engineers. This is especially exciting, because computing is for everyone!
These days, AI understandably captures a lot of the headlines as a set of technologies that are transforming our world. The Allen School has long been at the forefront of many exciting developments in robotics, natural language processing, computer vision and more. As experts in the underlying techniques and challenges of AI, we’re also well-versed in its risks and limitations and are passionate about deploying these technologies in fair, safe and sustainable ways.
Computing also remains much more than AI. Whether you’re interested in advancing the algorithms that underpin the various aspects of our field, applying technology to create more accessible and connected communities, developing more reliable systems for everything from banking to air travel, or building innovations that sustain the health of people and the planet, the Allen School can help you to achieve your goals.
We’re proud to be a key contributor to our region’s vibrant technology ecosystem. The UW is among the brightest stars in Washington’s tech universe, with connections to hundreds of companies of all sizes and stages of growth as well as industry and non-profit research labs.
I invite you to learn more about our high-impact research, explore our highly rated degree and certificate programs and peruse our comprehensive course offerings. You can also get to know our world-class faculty and stay up to date on our latest news. And if we can be of assistance, please get in touch!
Warmly,
Dan Grossman
Interim Director and Paul G. Allen Term Professor
Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering