About The Department of Computer & Information Sciences

Letter From the Interim Chair, Dr. Edward Jones

Welcome to the Florida A&M University Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS). CIS has an illustrious tradition of success dating from 1967. Our success has been due to the collective vision, labor and caring of dedicated University administration, faculty, staff and students. We currently have over 250 majors and a faculty of 13. Between 30 and 50 students graduate each year with bachelor's degrees.
We offer three challenging undergraduate majors. The Computer Information Systems major (Business option) prepares students for careers that apply information technology as a strategic component of running a business. The Computer Science major (Science option) which is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org, replaces business courses with mathematics courses and prepares students for careers that explore and discover new technologies. The Information Technology major (IT option) which prepares students to meet the computer technology needs of business, government, healthcare, schools, and other kinds of organizations.
Either major prepares students for graduate study. The rewards of completing these challenging programs include employment by major corporations into growth careers and at impressive starting salaries, and acceptance into prestigious graduate programs. We also offer a Master of Software Engineering Science degree for students with an academic background in computing.
We have a dynamic, experienced and accomplished faculty, not to mention a dedicated support staff for your administrative and computing needs. Faculty members have over 125 years combined teaching experience and 60 years industry experience. All faculty members teach; most also do research and publish scholarly papers. Faculty members involve undergraduate and graduate students in research projects. Take the time to visit homepages of individual faculty members, and see samples of student research.

Our department is on the move! Our vision is to be the best department at FAMU. Being the best means striving to be better today than yesterday, setting higher standards and working harder to meet them.
It involves expanding expectations, and taking appropriate actions to meet our goals. Our odyssey to be the best is steered by a dedication to live out and demonstrate four core corporate values:
• Respect - treating all stakeholders with the same respect we expect to receive.
• Vision - service of the highest caliber for all stake holders, i.e., expecting the best.
• Achievement - embracing attitudes and exhibiting actions necessary for achieving success.
• Teamwork - sharing the risks, responsibilities and rewards.
On behalf of the faculty and staff, I want to encourage you to participate in this department. Although your first concern is your own academic success, you have a role to play in moving the department ahead. You are expected to be a good citizen and exhibit the highest standards of academic and professional integrity.
Many opportunities will arise for you to represent this department and the university: do so with distinction. You will find that other students can benefit from your knowledge, skills and leadership. Look for ways to serve others in the department.
It is my wish that you will come to treasure your time in the CIS Department as a time of personal growth and contribution.

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CIS Faculty & Staff Directory

Idongesit Mkpong-Ruffin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
P: (850) 599-3042 E: idongesit.ruffin@famu.edu
Office: 300 Benjamin Banneker A

Clement Allen, Ph.D.
Professor
P: (850) 599-3050 E: clement.allen@famu.edu
Office: 313 Benjamin Banneker A

Hongmei Chi, Ph.D.
Professor
P: (850) 412-7355 E: hongmei.chi@famu.edu
Office: 211C Benjamin Banneker A

Vanessa Coote, M.S.
Instructor
P: (850) 412-7353 E: vanessa.coote@famu.edu
Office: 211B Benjamin Banneker A

Jon deGoicoechea, M.S.
Instructor
P: (850) 599-3961 E: jon.degoicoechea@famu.edu
Office: 304 Benjamin Banneker A

Deidre W. Evans, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
P: (850) 599-3964 E: deidre.evans@famu.edu
Office: 312 Benjamin Banneker A

Bobby Granville, Ph.D
Associate Professor
P: (850) 412-7360 E: bobby.granville@famu.edu
Office: 303 Benjamin Banneker A

Edwina Jacobs, M.S.
Instructor
P: (850) 412-7351 E: edwina1.jacobs@famu.edu
Office: 213 Benjamin Banneker A

Edward Jones, Ph.D.
Professor and and CIS Interim Chairperson
P: (850) 412-7349 E: edward.jones@famu.edu
Office: 302 Benjamin Banneker A

Jinwei Liu, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
P: (850) 599-8647 E: jinwei.liu@famu.edu
Office: 207 Benjamin Banneker A

Bhanu Prasad, Ph.D.
Professor
P: (850) 412-7359 E: bhanu.prasad@famu.edu
Office: 310A Benjamin Banneker A

Yohn Jairo Parra Bautista, Ph.D.
Instructor
P: (850) 599-8647 E: yohn.parrabautista@famu.edu
Office: 207 Benjamin Banneker A

Mrs. Myra McNair-Gurley
Office Manager
P: (850) 599-3042 E: myra.mcnair@famu.edu
Office: 308 Benjamin Banneker A

Ms. Terrial Brown
Corporate Relations Coordinator
P: (850) 412-7361 E: terrial.brown@famu.edu
Office: 308 Benjamin Banneker A

CIS Advisors

Ms. Debra Lewis
Academic Advisor
P: (850) 280-2166 E: debra.lewis@famu.edu
Office: 211A Benjamin Banneker A
Advisement Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM - 11:30 PM & 1 PM - 5 PM

Ms. Whitney White
Academic Advisor
P: (850) 412-5098 E: whitney.white@famu.edu
Office: 211 Benjamin Banneker A
Advisement Hours:
Tuesday: Virtual Walk Ins (by phone)
Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM 2:00 PM – 4 :00 PM
Virtual Appointments:
Monday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Contact Us

CST Computer & Information Sciences

1333 Wahnish Way
308-A Banneker Technical Bldg.
Tallahassee, Florida 32307

P:: (850) 599-3050
F:: (850) 599-3221
E:: myra.mcnair@famu.edu