DENDRITIC: A Human-Centered AI and Data Science Institute

Just as dendrites in the nervous system form interconnected networks facilitating the transmission of signals between neurons, DENDRITIC fosters connectivity among researchers, labs, and specialized tools to exchange ideas, knowledge, and solutions seamlessly. This name reflects the institute’s commitment to agility, adaptability, and innovation, mirroring the dynamic nature of dendritic structures in responding to stimuli.

To advance education, research, development, and innovation in AI/DS, ​leading to professional development and the creation of knowledge, solutions, and ​technologies for the betterment of society.

To become the most relevant hub for education and RD&I in Artificial ​Intelligence and Data Science in the state of Florida.

The institute adheres to a set of core values that ACCREDIT its commitment to ​success, integrity, and inclusivity, as follows:

• Agility: quickly adapt to a changing environment.
• Collaboration: foster a culture of collaboration, teamwork, and knowledge sharing.
• Continuous learning: continuous learning and development culture.
• Results-oriented: delivering results that have a real impact.
• Excellence and ethics: strive for high-quality and ethical research.
• Diversity and inclusion: diverse and inclusive environment and culture.
• Innovation: explore new ideas and approaches to solve complex problems.
• Transparency: being transparent about reproducibility, data, limitations, and ​biases.

DENDRITIC aims to achieve goals in response to the dynamic growth and ​transformation within the fields of AI/DS and applications. The following goals will be ​pursued:

1. To contribute to AI/DS advancement;
2. To establish prominence in Southwest Florida;
3. To forge collaborations with industry and government;
4. To advance education in AI and DS;
5. To complement and strengthen existing academic programs; and
6. To ensure adaptability and funding.

Director: Dr. Leandro de Castro

• Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at the U.A. Whitaker College of ​Engineering at FGCU. He has a diverse academic background with a B.Sc. in Electrical ​Engineering, an M.Sc., and a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, and an MBA in Strategic ​Business Management. Dr. de Castro has held various research and teaching positions ​worldwide, published over 250 scientific papers, authored four books, and co-founded ​several AI-based startups. He has been recognized as one of the top 2% most influential ​researchers globally in recent years.

Dean: Dr. Huzefa Kagdi

• Dean of the U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering at FGCU, with expertise in software engineering, software analytics, and program comprehension. His leadership philosophy focuses on servant and transformational styles, fostering an inclusive, student-centered environment. He has a strong background in research, securing external funding and earning international recognition for his work. Dr. Kagdi is also deeply passionate about teaching, mentoring students, and advancing education in computer science and software engineering.

Director: Dr. Leandro de Castro

• Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at the U.A. Whitaker College of ​Engineering at FGCU. He has a diverse academic background with a B.Sc. in Electrical ​Engineering, an M.Sc., and a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, and an MBA in Strategic ​Business Management. Dr. de Castro has held various research and teaching positions ​worldwide, published over 250 scientific papers, authored four books, and co-founded ​several AI-based startups. He has been recognized as one of the top 2% most influential ​researchers globally in recent years.

Research Chairs: Dr. Leandro de Castro & Dr. Anna Koufakou

• Dr. Anna Koufakou is a Professor in the Department of Computing & Software Engineering at FGCU. She specializes ​in natural language processing, machine learning, data mining, emotion recognition, and ​anomaly detection. Her work spans diverse applications, including law enforcement data ​analysis and social media monitoring. She has received several awards for her research ​contributions and actively mentors students in research projects.

Education Chair: Dr. Chengyi Qu

• Assistant Professor in the Department of Computing & Software Engineering at FGCU. With ​a background as a research scientist at Argonne National Lab and a Ph.D. in Computer ​Science, Dr. Qu is involved in cybersecurity training and research, particularly in edge/cloud ​networking and unmanned vehicle communication. He leads the FGCU Cybersecurity ​Leadership Strategy Professional Education Program and advises the university's ​cybersecurity research lab.

Internal Engagement Chair: Dr. Chrissann R. Ruehle

• Dr. Chrissann Ruehle is an AI ethics researcher and educator who served as the Provost ​Faculty Fellow for AI at FGCU. She led the AI Task Force and is a faculty member in the ​Lutgert College of Business, focusing on organizational behavior and ethics, and business ​strategy. Her research includes AI ethics, governance, and the use of AI in education, and she ​has presented at various prestigious conferences.

External Engagement Chair: Mark Bole

• Instructor at FGCU's Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship with a strong ​background in finance and entrepreneurship. He earned a bachelor's degree from the ​University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from the University of Tennessee. Mark’s career ​spans financial management roles in multinational corporations and leadership in ​entrepreneurial initiatives across Europe and North America. His teaching focuses on ​demystifying Artificial Intelligence and its applications in business, emphasizing practical ​benefits and enhancing business efficiency through task-level AI applications. Mark's ​approach is geared towards making AI accessible and applicable, equipping students and ​professionals with the necessary skills to excel in a tech-driven business environment.

Marketing and Communication (MARCOM) Chair: Dr. Vinod Kumar Ahuja

• Dr. Vinod Kumar Ahuja is an Assistant Professor of Computing and Data Science at FGCU. He has PhD – IT and MS – MIS from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, MBA and Computer Science Diploma from Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, BBA from the Institute of Business Administration Karachi, and Banking Diploma and Associateship from the Institute of Bankers Pakistan. He has worked for 14 years in the banking industry at senior level. His research interest is in open collaboration focusing on open source software and citizen science. He regularly publishes and reviews research at AIS conferences (ICIS, AMCIS, MWAIS), The ACM Conference on CSCW, IEEE International Requirements Engineering Conference, and Management Information Systems Journal. He is an active AIS and INFORMS member and a Linux Foundation Project CHAOSS maintainer.

• Dr. Ahmed Elshall (U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering)
• Dr. Daniel Linares Garcia (U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering)
• Dr. Deepa Devasenapathy (U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering)
• Dr. Diana Cheshire (College of Education)
• Dr. Hansen Zhang (Library)
• Dr. Islam Baharul (U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering)
• Dr. Jaffar Ali Shahul Hameed (School of Arts & Sciences)
• Dr. Jayanta Gupta (Marieb College of Health and Human Sciences)
• Dr. Lesley Clack (Marieb College of Health and Human Sciences)
• Dr. Md Shohel Rana (U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering)
• Dr. Megan Atha (College of Education)
• Dr. Michele Stork (College of Education)
• Dr. Pelin Ciris (U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering)
• Dr. Seneshaw Tsegaye (U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering)
• Dr. Sudip Dhakal (U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering)
• Dr. Yong-Taek Min (Marieb College of Health & Human Services)

Under construction.

Under construction.