This article is published in the March 2025 issue.

CRA-Industry Call for Council Nominations

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By Helen Wright, Manager, CRA-I

The Computing Research Association – Industry (CRA-I) is seeking visionary leaders to help guide its efforts in strengthening collaboration between industry, academia, and government. CRA-I was established in 2020 as a committee of the Computing Research Association (CRA) and has since grown into a dynamic community of computing researchers from industry who are committed to advancing shared research interests and improving societal outcomes.

To support this mission, CRA-I is expanding its Council, which will eventually consist of 21 leaders representing the breadth and diversity of the computing research field.

Why Join the CRA-I Council?

The CRA-I Council plays a critical role in shaping initiatives that enhance industry-academic partnerships, influence research priorities, and foster collaboration across sectors. Council members serve a three-year term and contribute their expertise to help steer CRA-I’s activities and strategic direction.

Council Member Responsibilities

CRA-I Council members are expected to actively engage in one or more of the following areas:

  • Develop and lead new initiatives aligned with CRA-I’s mission.
  • Identify key focus areas for CRA-I’s efforts.
  • Organize and participate in roundtable discussions and workshops.
  • Author whitepapers and reports that inform the computing research community.
  • Coordinate CRA-I activities with the broader work of CRA.
  • Provide input on CRA-I’s growth and outreach strategies.
  • Participate in monthly virtual meetings.
  • Respond to community requests and agency RFIs as needed.

Current CRA-I Leadership

CRA-I is currently led by a seven-member Steering Committee, co-chaired by Fatma Özcan (Google) and Divesh Srivastava (AT&T). The committee, along with the growing CRA-I Council, is supported by CRA-I Manager Helen Wright.

Nomination Process

CRA-I invites nominations for new Council members from industry and academia. If you or someone you know would be a strong candidate, please submit a nomination by April 30, 2025, to hwright@cra.org.

Nominations should include:

  • Name, affiliation, and email address of the nominee.
  • Technical areas of expertise.
  • Up to five significant service contributions to the computing research community.
  • Nominee’s resume or a link to their professional webpage.
  • A brief statement explaining why the nominee would be a valuable addition to the CRA-I Council.
  • Names and contact information (email and phone) for two to three references who can speak to the nominee’s qualifications.

CRA-I is looking for leaders who are ready to engage in meaningful efforts that strengthen computing research and industry partnerships. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.

For any questions, contact Helen Wright at hwright@cra.org.