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USF Business Professor Receives “Fellow” Designation by the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Information systems scholar Alan Hevner is recognized for his significant research in several areas, including database systems, software engineering, design science, and informatics.

TAMPA, Fla. – A USF information systems and decisions sciences professor has been elected by his peers as an AAAS Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world's largest general scientific society. USF Muma College of Business Professor Alan Hevner is among 539 new fellows from around the world, receiving the honor as a result of his substantive research in the fields of computer sciences, design science research, software engineering, and distributed database systems.

AAAS Fellows are elected annually by the AAAS Council for meritorious efforts to advance science or its applications. Fellows have made significant contributions in areas such as research, teaching, technology, services to professional societies, and the communication of science to the public.

"This is a prestigious, international honor that recognizes the importance of business research," said Robert Forsythe, dean of the University Of South Florida Muma College Of Business. "Dr. Hevner is a widely respected scholar and a 'thought leader' for the use of design science research in the information systems field. His efforts have made contributions in this industry, particularly in the areas of cleanroom software engineering and distributed database systems."

A professor who teaches courses in software architecture, software testing, and advanced systems development, Hevner recently completed a two-year assignment as a program manager at the National Science Foundation.

"This is the caliber of faculty that students at USF deal with on a daily basis," added Forsythe. "He is teaching the next generation of software engineers, business leaders, and IT specialists."

Hevner, who holds the Citigroup/Hidden River Chair of Distributed Technology, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the field of design sciences at the 2009 International Conference on Design Science Research in Information Systems and Technology. During the past decade, he has been an influential leader in design science research. An internationally recognized scholar and sought-after lecturer, his research interests include information systems development, software engineering, distributed database systems, health care information systems, and telecommunications.

AAAS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the sciences by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. In addition to organizing membership activities, AAAS publishes the journal Science, as well as many scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide. The newly-elected fellows will be awarded a certificate and a rosette pin during the AAAS Fellow Forum at the 2012 AAAS annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, in February.