TLDR: Dr. Casey Kennington has been named the first Boise State Foundation Board Endowed Professor of Computer Science, a significant appointment that underscores the university’s commitment to advancing artificial intelligence and machine learning research and education. This professorship, funded by the Boise State University Foundation Board and matched by the Foundation, aims to retain top faculty and propel the university towards R1 Carnegie research status.
Boise State University has announced the appointment of Dr. Casey Kennington as the inaugural Boise State Foundation Board Endowed Professor of Computer Science. This landmark decision, made by the College of Engineering, marks a pivotal moment for computer science in Idaho and highlights the university’s strategic focus on cutting-edge research and faculty retention.
The endowed professorship was established through the collective vision and generosity of the Boise State University Foundation Board members, with their philanthropy further matched by the Foundation itself. This initiative is part of the broader “Unbridled” fundraising campaign, reflecting a strong, shared commitment to Boise State’s future.
According to Amy Fleischer, Dean of the College of Engineering, “My thanks go out to the generous donors on the Boise State Foundation Board who established this endowed professorship. Endowed professorships are a way to celebrate and reward our most talented and impactful professors and to ensure that we retain them at Boise State for years to come.”
Dr. Kennington’s appointment is particularly significant as it creates a lasting foundation for advancing critical fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). It also plays a crucial role in retaining talented faculty within Idaho and bolstering the college’s nationally recognized computer science program. This move is also seen as a key step in Boise State’s ambitious pursuit of R1 Carnegie research status.
Since joining Boise State in 2016, Dr. Kennington has made substantial contributions to the university’s research and academic landscape. He was promoted to associate professor and has spearheaded multiple federally-funded research projects. Notable among these are an NSF CAREER Award received in 2022 and a 2025 NSF grant specifically aimed at bolstering AI research infrastructure. This grant is designed to provide students with enhanced access to generative AI models and tools.
Furthermore, Dr. Kennington established the university’s Speech, Language, and Interactive Machines (SLIM) Lab, where his research focuses on bridging the gap between humans and machines. His work in the SLIM Lab aims to build systems that facilitate more natural and intuitive interactions between people and computers. He is also instrumental in the development of the university’s new Bachelor of Science in AI Science degree, a pioneering four-year program set to launch in Fall 2025, making Boise State one of the first universities in the country and the first in Idaho to offer such a comprehensive AI-focused bachelor’s degree. This program emphasizes creating AI systems from scratch, rather than merely using existing tools, preparing graduates for top data science and AI roles.
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Dr. Kennington’s expertise spans Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning, and Data Science, and he has been a driving force behind innovative student programs, including the new AI Science degree. His work aligns with Boise State’s reputation as an innovative university, embracing “blue turf thinking” to challenge conventional educational approaches.
