Sethuraman Panchanathan

Sethuraman Panchanathan, born on June twenty-four, nineteen sixty-one, is a distinguished Indian-American computer scientist and academic administrator. He made history by serving as the fifteenth Director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) from two thousand twenty to two thousand twenty-five, a role that underscored his commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation.

At Arizona State University (ASU), Panchanathan holds the position of professor and foundation chair in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, which is part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. His leadership extended to ASU's Knowledge Enterprise, where he served as executive vice president and chief research and innovation officer, significantly enhancing the university's research capabilities.

During his tenure at the NSF, Panchanathan spearheaded transformative initiatives, including the establishment of the agency's first new directorate in over thirty years and the creation of a network of artificial intelligence research institutes. His departure from the NSF coincided with challenging times, marked by substantial cuts to the agency's funding.

Panchanathan's research is particularly focused on machine learning and assistive computing technologies aimed at improving the lives of disabled individuals. In recognition of his contributions to the field, he was honored with the Padma Shri in two thousand twenty-five, one of the highest civilian awards bestowed by the Government of India.