FACULTY PROFILE

A Major Score

With international experience, Lin Chase is heading a new phase of computer science

Aworldwide force at the commercial end of computer sci ence, Lin Chase now works toward making Minnesota State Mankato a top-tier place to learn it. “I’d like this [University] to be a top five computer science program in the U.S.,” Chase said. I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t be.” Chase was brought on in 2021 to revitalize the computer science program. The new approach is project-based; a student’s experience in the program is not virtual, simulated or otherwise a rehearsal for the big time. It is real-world experience with real projects undertaken by University partners. “We literally had almost 400 new students show up, just by listing the major,” Chase said. “We hadn’t done any marketing, no advertising. Just by offering computer science, all of a sudden we were the most rapidly growing major and department in the University.” Chase’s 35 years in the industry began with a software startup in Silicon Valley following her Carnegie Mellon undergraduate work. Most of her working life has been spent outside the U.S.—France, Scotland and Korea, among others—in roles ranging from VP of a software company to CEO of her own firm. “There’ve been so many roles. I love coding, I love design, I love leading technical teams. I loved doing sales, I loved being a CEO. Really what I ended up being in the end was a well-respected and kind of influential product designer.”

Near her home in tiny Amboy, Minnesota, Chase—who is also a multi-instrumentalist and performer—operates a recording studio and performance space.

“I’m busy now, so I’m not selling engineering time in the studio. But I’m interested in creating a space where people can come and enjoy music, and play music and learn music and be in a community that’s musical and artistic.”

Keeping her busy is a University life that, she said, has put her in the enviable position of taking her experience and applying it to an exciting new chapter for the University’s computer science education.

“We have a recipe. We have a small number of excellent, trained faculty. We have a supportive administration and we’ve got a little momentum,” she said.

“I don’t have to deal with a massive egotistical framework. People here are open-minded about improvement.”

-Joe Tougas '86