Chris GauthierDickey, Ph.D.

Dr. Chris GauthierDickey is the inaugural Head of the Dwight and Dian Diercks School of Advanced Computing and the Direct Supply Chair of Applied AI and Software Innovation. GauthierDickey brings a distinguished record of academic leadership, research innovation, and a deep commitment to excellence in computing education.

In this role, GauthierDickey leads the school’s strategic initiatives, including expanding applied AI education, strengthening industry partnerships and enhancing experiential learning opportunities. He also oversees the continued development of MSOE’s high-performance computing infrastructure, including Rosie, the university’s NVIDIA-powered supercomputing cluster. GauthierDickey also holds the Direct Supply Chair of Applied AI and Software Innovation, which is funded through a generous philanthropic gift from Regent Bob and Jenny Hillis and Direct Supply.

Prior, GauthierDickey was chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of Denver. During his six-year tenure as chair, he led transformative growth, doubling student enrollment, expanding faculty and launching new programs in cybersecurity, data science and artificial intelligence. His leadership was marked by a strong emphasis on student success, interdisciplinary collaboration and industry engagement.

A first-generation Latinx college graduate, GauthierDickey has been a national advocate for inclusive computing education. He co-led a multi-institutional, NSF-funded initiative to redesign undergraduate curricula to foster belonging and broaden participation in computer science and engineering. His efforts resulted in significant improvements in student retention and the creation of one of the department’s most popular majors.