Biography
Pam Vercellone-Smith has an interdisciplinary background that spans science and engineering, having earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Delaware followed by an M.S. in Software Engineering from Penn State Great Valley. Earlier, Dr. Vercellone-Smith earned both a M.S. in Microbiology and a B.S. in Biology from Virginia Tech. Since 2009, she has worked in the Engineering Division at Great Valley in a variety of teaching and research roles. She currently teaches data visualization and is the facilitator of the division’s Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) program. Dr. Vercellone-Smith's research interests include data visualization, social network analysis, software evolution, and problem-solving diversity in science and engineering. Prior to joining Penn State Great Valley, she worked as a project scientist in biodefense at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground. Dr. Vercellone-Smith is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery and the American Society for Microbiology.
Awards
2018 Teaching Excellence Award for part-time faculty, Penn State Great Valley, Malvern, PA
2011 Teaching Excellence Award for part-time faculty, Penn State Great Valley, Malvern, PA<
Research Interests
- Data visualization
- Social network analysis
- Software evolution
- Problem solving diversity in science and engineering
Publications
Selected publications
Vercellone-Smith, P., Jablokow, K. and Friedel, C. (2012). Characterizing communication networks in a web-based classroom: Cognitive styles and linguistic behavior of self-organizing groups in online discussions. Computers and Education, 59:222-235.
Jablokow, K. and Vercellone-Smith, P. (2011). The Impact of Cognitive Style on Social Networks in Online Discussion Forums. Advances in Engineering Education: Special e-Learning edition. Winter 2011, pp 1-29.
Vercellone-Smith, P. and Sangwan, R. S. (2010). ‘Visualization’ Chapter in Encyclopedia of Software Engineering. Edited by P. Laplante. pp. 1341- 1354. CRC Press. Taylor and Francis Group, NY.
Sangwan, R. S., Vercellone-Smith, P. and Neill, C. (2010). Use of a Multidimensional Approach to Study the Evolution of Software Complexity. Innovations in Software and Systems Engineering (ISSE) 6:299-310.
Jablokow, K., Vercellone-Smith, P and Richmond, S. S. (2009). Exploring Cognitive Diversity and the Level-Style Distinction (AC 2009-550). Proceedings of the 2009 ASEE Conference on Engineering Education. Austin, TX, June 14 – 17, 2009.
Sangwan, R.S., Vercellone-Smith. P. and Laplante, P. A. (2008). Structural Epochs in the Complexity of Software over Time. IEEE Software 25 (4): 66-73.
Sangwan, Raghvinder S., Vercellone-Smith, P. and Laplante, P.A. (2007). “Measuring the Complexity of Design in Real-Time Imaging Software”, Proceedings of the Electronic Imaging Conference, in San Jose, CA. January 28 – February 1, 2007.
Laplante, P. and Vercellone-Smith, P. (2007). Chapter 15. Real Time Color Imaging Systems, in Color Image Processing. Methods and Applications. Ed. by Rastislav Lukac and Konstantinos N. Plataniotis. CRC Press. Taylor & Francis Group, NY.
Simmons, M. M., Vercellone-Smith, P. and Laplante, P.A. (2006). “Understanding Open Source Software through Software Archaeology: The Case of Nethack”, Proceedings of the 30th NASA Software Engineering Workshop in Columbia, MD, April 24-28, 2006.
Vercellone-Smith, P., Bobb, A. J. and Calomiris, J. J.. (1998). “Automated Enumeration of Bacillus anthracis Spores Using a Digital Image Analysis System”, Proceedings of the Scientific Conference on Chemical and Biological Defense Research, November 17-19, 1997, pp. 603-609, U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Education
B. S., Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
M.S., Microbiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
M.S., Software Engineering, Penn State Great Valley
Ph.D., Microbiology, University of Delaware