Title

From Potential to Promise - Developing Scholars, One Eureka

Moment at a Time.

Abstract

In this talk, I will tell the story of our work with some

truly remarkable undergraduate students at Rutgers-Camden, who despite

many odds have achieved success that is unprecedented for the Camden

campus. I will discuss the various challenges that we faced and some

ideas that have worked very well (and some that have not) for us. We

have been applying some of these ideas in our work with high

school students and students at other institutions.

Bio

Dr. Rajiv Gandhi is a Professor of Computer Science at

the Rutgers University-Camden. He also teaches at the University of

Pennsylvania. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2003 from the

University of Maryland, College Park. His research interests

lie in the broad area of theoretical computer science. Specifically,

he is interested in approximation and randomized algorithms. He is a

passionate educator who loves working with students with diverse

backgrounds, helping them achieve their potential. He has

been the recipient of several teaching excellence awards, including

the Warren I. Susman award for teaching excellence at Rutgers

University in 2014. He also received the Chancellor's

award for Civic Engagement at Rutgers-Camden in 2013.

In 2017 he was inducted in the Computer Science Alumni Hall of Fame

at the University of Maryland. He was a Fulbright Fellow from Jan-June

2011, during which he worked with students in Mumbai, India. Since

2009, he has also been working with high school students as part of

the Program in Algorithmic and Combinatorial Thinking.