We are thrilled to welcome Daphne Yao, Ph.D. to the College of Engineering as the new Department Head for Computer Science!

Inspiration

Daphne chose computer science during her undergraduate years at Princeton University while taking a discrete math course taught by field icon Professor Andrew Yao. She was inspired by him and loved how he gave students fun scenarios to estimate probabilities like finding the optimal number of people one should date before settling down. 

First Impressions

Since joining the College of Engineering, Daphne has been struck by the incredible legacy of her department’s faculty, whose research has shaped the computing field for nearly six decades while producing top-tier leaders across industry, academia and government. Daphne is very proud to be a part of her new department and excited to find ways to brag about their numerous achievements.

Daphne is equally impressed by her department’s commitment to undergraduate success especially considering the scale of its educational operations. The department’s dedicated career services supports their undergrads both inside and outside of the classroom, placing them competitively in internships and for future jobs.

Fun Facts & Local Picks

Get to know the person behind the title with fun facts you won’t find on her official bio:

• Local Favorites: Daphne often catches up with family over delicious food in or near Crabtree Valley Mall. Her top local spots also include Brecotea Bakery and Cafe in Cary for delicious pastries and Shijiri Sushi Bar in Morrisville for authentic Japanese cuisine.
• Binge-Worthy Watch: Kim’s Convenience, a sitcom on Netflix. Her only complaint is that Simu Liu should have had more screen time! 
• Athletic Ability: She is an impressive long-distance breaststroker.
• Personal Goal: In an effort to improve her communication skills, Daphne wants to sharpen her writing and speaking skills in both English and Mandarin Chinese.