Samar Swaid

Dr. Samar Swaid stands as a distinguished academic luminary and visionary educator, presently assuming the role of Dean of Information Technology (IT) and Engineering at Broward College. Her steadfast dedication to innovation and scholarly excellence has profoundly influenced the academic sphere, nurturing a culture of distinction within STEM education.

Armed with a robust background in computer science and engineering, Dr. Swaid has devoted her career to igniting students' fervor for technology and empowering them to emerge as future trailblazers in the field. Her ardor for augmenting computational thinking, advancing STEM education, and infusing design thinking into software engineering has propelled her to spearhead myriad initiatives aimed at inspiring students and equipping them with the proficiencies requisite to thrive in an ever-evolving technological milieu.

Throughout her tenure at Broward College, Dr. Swaid has been pivotal in the revision and inception of pioneering programs in data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity, positioning the institution at the vanguard of emerging technology education.

Furthermore, Dr. Swaid actively engages in collaborative ventures and partnerships designed to propel STEM education forward. She has lent her expertise to projects spanning computational thinking, cyberinfrastructure for STEM, AI, and cybersecurity, collaborating with esteemed entities such as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency (CAOE) – Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, and the National Science Foundation, among others. Her scholarly contributions resonate across national and international conferences, esteemed publications, and journals, amplifying the impact of her work on a global scale.

Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Swaid amassed over nine years of invaluable experience in the IT workforce, overseeing large and medium-scale projects and supervising teams of over 40 developers and software engineers within the financial sector. This multifaceted background imbues her leadership with practical insight and industry acumen, enriching her approach to education and innovation.

Dr. Samar Swaid's indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment to advancing STEM education epitomize her stature as a transformative figure within the academic community, catalyzing change and inspiring generations of students and scholars alike to push the boundaries of technological exploration and discovery.