Each week we're featuring a Q&A with a member of our faculty in the School of Computing. Get to know some of our professors! This week we're featuring Associate Professor of Practice Chris Bohn.
What are your research areas or areas of specialty/interest?
In my younger days, I studied parallel and distributed computing. Later, I studied a novel use of model checking tools and heuristics to overcome the state explosion problem. As teaching faculty, I don’t currently have an active research program. Managing the School of Computing’s Senior Design program, however, occupies much of my time.
What courses are you teaching this year?
Last semester I taught SOFT 160, the introductory course for software engineering majors and SOFT 360, the leadership and mentorship course for software engineering majors. As always, for both semesters I’m teaching CSCE 231, the course that gives computer science and software engineering majors a peek under the hood, and Senior Design, the capstone experience for all of the School of Computing’s majors.
How did you first become interested in computing or your specific area of computing?
Once upon a time, my dad built a Z80-based Heathkit microcomputer. Throw in an introduction to the BASIC interpreter, a book of games source code listings, and the rest is history.
What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of computing? What do you enjoy most about those?
I’ve been a ham radio operator for about 32 years. I dabble in woodworking, which is a nice way to blend math and design with something to do with my hands. And my wife and I keep alpacas and chickens.
What is your favorite weekend activity?
One thing you’re sure to find me doing every weekend is shoveling manure. I wouldn’t say that’s my favorite weekend activity, and if it were my favorite activity then I still wouldn’t say it. What I most look forward to on the weekends is a Saturday-night tradition my wife and I have: eating homemade pizza while watching an old (or not-so-old) movie.
Where is your favorite place you've traveled?
Every place I’ve lived has had some aspect that I’ve particularly enjoyed. It might be the very pleasant people; it might be a good sense of community; it might be a job I particularly enjoyed. It might be that every two or three weeks one village or another had a festival close enough for a daytrip. Or it might be that it was only a five-minute drive to the beach.
What is your favorite food?
I’ll usually eat whatever’s on the plate in front of me, as long as it’s not actually holding on to the plate. And also as long as it’s not lima beans.
What is a fun fact or something other members of the school may not know about you?
About 25 years ago, I was described as “not a bozo” on the Beowulf mailing list FAQ. A couple of years later, this was the tie-breaker between me and another candidate for the Air Force Institute of Technology’s faculty pipeline and made it possible for me to pursue my Ph.D.
What is your favorite thing about being a part of the School of Computing?
The people in the School of Computing. Whether they’re staff, faculty, or students, the people I work with are great people to be around.