Jeff Jackson's Personal Page

I earned my Ph.D. in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon, my MSCS at California State University Fullerton, and my BS in math and computer science at Oral Roberts University.
My research has primarily been in computational learning theory, which includes elements of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence, although recently I've been working on some related philosophical issues. My Erdös Number is 3.
I've authored a textbook on Web technologies, a project that grew out of my consulting/working for a now-defunct Pittsburgh dot-com (Essential Surfing Gear) during the latter half of the 1990's.
I also worked as a software engineer and had some management experience in the aerospace/defense industry for the first eight years of my career. Much of that time was spent working at Nellis Air Force Base.
I will have chaired my department at Duquesne University for six years when my current term ends June 30, 2012. I'm not a fan of administrivia, but I'm a big fan of my department!
I've been the Principle Investigator on four NSF grants which have funded the research of a number of undergraduate and Master's students (see my research page for details on some of these).
As of December 2011, I have something like 17 years of experience teaching at the university level. I've taught computer science and a little math, from low-level undergraduate through Master's courses. My impression is that most students think that my classes are worthwhile. I hope so, because students and student learning are important to me!
I have advised many senior projects and am beginning to post student work with their permission:
- Chris Lard: study of automatic generation of levels in video games