Son Tran, a professor and department head in the Department of Computer Science at New Mexico State University (NMSU), has been named the second recipient of the Hue and Pat McCoy Endowed Professorship. Tran, who joined NMSU 24 years ago, focuses his research on artificial intelligence applications in areas such as smart grids, home automation, and robotics.
The professorship was established through seed funding from Hue and Pat McCoy in 2019 to attract and retain top computer science faculty at NMSU. The first recipient was Huiping Cao in 2022. Hue McCoy served for decades as a faculty member at NMSU’s Department of Computer Science beginning part-time in the 1970s and retiring finally in 2010.
Enrico Pontelli, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at NMSU, said, “Hue McCoy was, for many years, a cornerstone of our computer science undergraduate program. However, his greatest contribution was felt in his mentorship work and how he impacted the individual lives of the undergraduate students he encountered over the years. He had a remarkable gift for inspiring students, helping them navigate challenges and discover their passion for computing. This professorship is a beautiful continuation of his life’s work, ensuring that his legacy of dedicated mentorship and student-focused education will endure at NMSU for generations. We are proud to see Dr. Tran recognized with this professorship, as he embodies the same dedication to excellence and students as Hue McCoy.”
Tran has contributed to international conferences by serving as co-chair for both the International Conference on Logic Programming and Non-Monotonic Reasoning and the International Workshop on Computational Logic and Multi-Agent System. He is also currently an editorial board member for the Artificial Intelligence journal.
Tran reflected on what keeps him at NMSU: “I like the academic environment at NMSU, and the students are hard workers. Every time I see that their success, that’s the thing that make me stay,” Tran said. “I have seen a lot of them succeed in their careers. Many of my students now have jobs at triple my salary. This is the first endowed professorship we have had in the computer science department,and it will be very useful because I can use the funds to support students.”
The purpose of this endowed position is to recognize faculty members who promote both departmental goals and advancements within computer science across broader communities.
Tran commented further about McCoy’s approach: “Hue McCoy was very much about his students,” Tran said. “He believed faculty should do more than just teaching but should also mentor the students to guide them in the right direction.”
Alumni mentored by McCoy continue to contribute toward this endowment.
