Meet Bojan Cukic: Dean of the College of Computing and Informatics
Bojan Cukic, dean of the College of Computing and Informatics, is a dynamic, collaborative leader and a prolific researcher, who is continuing to develop and advance the largest computing college in the state. He became dean in December 2022. He joined UNC Charlotte in 2014 as chair of the Department of Computer Science.
Get to know Cukic better through the questions below, asked by Julian Garcia, a senior communications major and intern in the Office of University Communications.
What attracted you to UNC Charlotte specifically?
The school is truly exceptional on a national level. During my interview, the professors and staff spoke passionately about their commitment to student success, their communication with students, the effectiveness of their programs and the support available to students. I was completely convinced and really wanted to join the team. I was hopeful that they would offer me a position.
What three words do you believe best define your leadership style?
The three words that best define my leadership style are integrity, vision and empathy.
It’s important to have integrity and mean what you say. Being open and transparent in communication, as well as making predictable decisions, is key. Having a clear vision is essential to drive progress, especially in the field of computing and intelligence. Understanding the direction of the field and how to better serve the University and college community is crucial, whether through research, educational programs, student success or scholarships. Selling and demonstrating the vision for meaningful improvement are also important. Empathy toward others is crucial, as it’s essential to acknowledge and understand different perspectives and conclusions. Everyone deserves to be heard and have a say in decisions, and having empathy for those in leadership positions is important, too.
What’s the best piece of professional or personal advice you received?
Once you have a vision that your organization aligns with, you need to take the risk and act on it. Change is never easy. Everyone prefers the status quo, which can be very old, especially in academia. However, you need to take the risk and make adjustments along the way if the vision doesn’t account for different opinions. So, take the risk, practice gratitude, empathy and lead the organization forward. For our University, in a fast-growing city like Charlotte, there’s no benefit in having small computing programs. We are now one of the 10 largest computer science programs in the country and 86% of our students find jobs here and have very productive careers. We need to be an anchor for the business community and commerce. Graduating 1,300 students every year is essential for this market’s growth, and it’s part of our vision and change. We need to graduate enough young minds to provide growth and opportunities for both current and future residents.
You are headed to a deserted island. You can take a food, a drink, a book, a song and a movie. What are they and why?
I would take Mediterranean food, and I would just stick with iced tea. It’s always refreshing and sweet. The book that I read at least three times, and I can read it as many times, is “The Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco, it’s a murder mystery/ thriller. “Amadeus” is a movie about Mozart and his life. I have watched the movie at least three times, so it must be a favorite.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I spend a lot of time playing with dogs and other pets. I have a rescue dog who is a bit wild, but I enjoy taking care of her. I also love to travel and have been fortunate to visit many places due to my research and various opportunities. I really enjoy seeing new places.