Professor @ BVU,
Software Developer


"If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Background


Bio

Dr. Shepherd joined the faculty at Buena Vista University in 2007. Prior to joining the faculty, he spent a decade working as a software engineer and IT architect, having spent most of his time in the national defense (DoD), energy, and transportation industries. He enjoys bringing those experiences into the classroom so that students can see the connection between computer science theory and real-world practical skills. Dr. Shepherd's research interests include software engineering, user interface design and testing, algorithms, interval numerical methods, and virtual reality.

Education

  • Ph.D.
    Computational Science and Statistics
    University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota
  • M.S.
    Computer Science
    University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
  • B.S.
    Computer Science/Mathematics
    Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa

Recognition and Awards


George Wythe Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2015

New Century Faculty Development Award for Advising, 2011

Golden Key International Honour Society, inducted 2010

Bass and Associates, Inc., "Wall of Fame," 2002

World Champion Team, Sun/Oracle Java World Cup, 1996

Student Success


At BVU, our computer science department features a rigorous yet distinctive academic program that is coupled with a number of unique outside-the-classroom experiences designed to help students develop their skills and find their passion. The end result is having students we're very proud of by the time they graduate! Here is just a sample of where our students go for internships, full-time employment, and grad schools.

Before Graduation

(Internships, Research, Study Abroad, Conferences, etc.)
  • Walt Disney World
  • Microsoft
  • National Security Agency (NSA)
  • CUNY High Performance Computing Center
  • Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference
  • DuPont Pioneer
  • Nationwide Insurance
  • Budapest Semester in Mathematics
  • Wells Blue Bunny
  • Principal Financial Group

Employment

  • Software Engineer, Venmo, San Francisco, CA
  • Software Engineer, PayPal, San Jose, CA
  • Software Developer, U.S. Olympic Committee, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Associate Gameplay Programmer, Hi-Rez Studios, Atlanta, GA
  • Specialist, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Washington, D.C.
  • Software Developer, Stine Seeds, Adel, IA
  • IT Analyst, Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA
  • Software Developer, Nationwide Insurance, Des Moines, IA

Graduate School

  • Ph.D. student, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
  • Ph.D. student, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
  • M.S. in Information Assurance, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
  • M.S. in Entertainments Arts Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Learn more about Comp Sci @ BVU

Contact Dr. Shepherd


Jason B. Shepherd, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Science
Professor of Computer Science
Buena Vista University
610 W. 4th St.
Storm Lake, IA 50588

712-749-2281