Welcome! My name is Mark Fontenot. I’m a Clinical Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering at SMU. I also serve as a faculty academic adviser for declared computer science and computer engineering students. I serve on several committees at SMU such as the Undergraduate Program Committee in the CSE Department and the Campus-wide Student Affairs Council.
I’ve been at SMU since 2001. During that time, I’ve been a full-time grad student, adjunct faculty member, full time faculty member, faculty-in-residence (Founding Faculty-in-Residence of Loyd Residential Commons), and part-time graduate student. I hold a BS and MS degree in Computer Science from McNeese State University and SMU, respectively and a PhD in Applied Science from SMU. My research interests are in engineering education with a focus on innovativeness and innovative work behavior of undergraduate students.
I have a wide range of interests including:
- Higher education
- Secondary education and its impact on college student’s success
- Out-of-classroom teaching and learning in a university
- Engineering education and pedagogy
- Innovation and creativity education
- Computer science education
- Database systems and data management
- Classical piano and organ performance
When not crunching numbers, I am assistant organist (former principal organist) for St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Plano, TX. I’ve been working for St. Mark’s since September 2001, but have been a liturgical musician (piano, organ, voice) since I was 15.