Computer Science Prof. Todd W. Neller was named the recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Educator by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) and Educational Advances in Artificial Intelligence. The award is given based on contributions to AI education—including innovative teaching methods, the creation of pedagogical resources, curricula design, and general AI education outside of the classroom.
Neller earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Cornell University and a doctorate from Stanford University, where he was awarded a Stanford University Gerald J. Lieberman Fellowship and the George E. Forsythe Memorial Award for excellence in teaching. A game enthusiast, Neller has in recent years enjoyed pursuing game AI challenges—computing optimal play for games such as “Pass the Pigs” and “Dudo”, creating new reasoning algorithms for “Clue/Cluedo”, analyzing optimal “Risk” attack and defense policies, and designing logic mazes.
Neller currently serves on the AAAI Executive Council Committee on Education, and is an editor and columnist for the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) SIGAI “AI Education Matters,” as well as the Model AI assignments chair and webmaster.