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Douglas C. Schmidt ’84, M.A. ’86

Dean of William & Mary’s School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics

Major: {{https://www.wm.edu/as/sociology/, Sociology}}

Doug Schmidt, an internationally recognized scholar with over 30 years of experience in academic and government leadership, heads the first new school established at William & Mary in more than half a century. The School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics launches fall 2025, with a mission to prepare students for success in a data-driven world. As dean, Doug will oversee the integration of the school’s four areas into a unified academic unit while advancing their research efforts, increasing grant funding and expanding doctoral program enrollment.

Doug earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in sociology at W&M, followed by a master’s and doctorate in computer science from the University of California, Irvine. This academic path strengthened his ability to connect liberal arts and sciences with fast-moving technological innovation. "If the liberal arts teach us to ask why, and the sciences to uncover how," Doug says, "the new school ensures our graduates also master what now — blending soul and software to invent the humane technologies the future demands.​"

Learn more about Dean Schmidt