Dr. Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan served as the 15th Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2020 to 2025, overseeing U.S. national efforts in science, engineering, research funding, and STEM education. Previously at Arizona State University (ASU), he held senior roles including Executive Vice President of Knowledge Enterprise Development and Chief Research & Innovation Officer, where he significantly expanded the university’s research enterprise, strategic partnerships, and innovation initiatives. He founded the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing (CUbiC), promoting human-centered computing, accessibility technologies, and AI-driven multimedia research. Over his career, he has published nearly 500 peer-reviewed papers, mentored over 150 researchers, and championed inclusive, interdisciplinary science and engineering.
