Dean Mynatt balances opportunity and obligation in welcoming Khoury College incoming class

As the Khoury College of Computer Sciences turns 40 and welcomes one of its largest and most diverse classes to date, Dean Elizabeth Mynatt’s message to the incoming students echoed her call to its recent graduates: the field you have chosen demands not just innovation, but also ethical service.

In her first welcome speech since taking the helm in January, Mynatt spoke of the ubiquity of computing across industries and everyday life, and its potential for both benefit and harm.

“The opportunities for computer scientists are boundless, but so too are the ethical responsibilities of the decisions and actions you will take as you study, go out on co-op, and enter the field professionally,” Mynatt said. “Computing technology is rarely neutral due to how deeply computing is ingrained in our society. Your time here will prepare you well to navigate this challenging space.”

Mynatt revisited the computer scientists’ oath she presented at the Khoury College Commencement in May. The 171-word Hippocratic-style affirmation urges computer scientists to build systems that improve our collective quality of life, while respecting and protecting users’ privacy, dignity, and diversity. Mynatt hopes that Khoury College will lead the development of the oath, and that computer science graduates everywhere will commit to it one day.

READ: Dean Mynatt proposes oath for computer scientists at Khoury College graduation

“As computer scientists, we need to create algorithms and systems that protect and uphold core human values,” Mynatt said. “Now more than ever, our oath is essential to guide the work we do on behalf of the larger society we serve.”

As examples of Khoury College students working for positive change, Mynatt cited Levi Kaplan and Nicole Gerzon, publishers of a recent paper on how images selected in Facebook ads overly influence who sees the ads, potentially introducing racial and gender bias. She highlighted Floris Dobbler, a co-op at a sustainable car subscription company in Munich, and Taylor Stevens, creator of a tech-based project to make community fridges more efficient. She also credited partnerships with Google and Northeastern University’s philosophy department for helping to integrate ethics training into the computing curriculum.

“Your faculty and academic advisors are here to help you become a world-class, responsible computer scientist and leader in a world more and more dependent on the technologies we create,” Mynatt said. “My commitment to you is that we will support your journey as a student and prepare you to enter the computer science profession.”

Graphic by Miles Chun

Also supporting that journey, the dean noted, are an assortment of student and university clubs, research opportunities, co-ops, and study abroad experiences, all means of making friends and exploring interests outside the classroom.

“Especially in these first few months, put yourself out there as much as you can. Meet new people, explore new ideas,” she said. “These opportunities will inform, shape, and deepen your education and time here at Northeastern.

“Welcome to Khoury College. We are glad you are here. We are excited about all that lies ahead for you.”

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