Ignatios Vakalis is a Professor of Computer Science at the California Polytechnic and State University – CAL POLY in San Luis Obispo, California. For 11 years as the chair of the department, he has developed and implemented a multi-year, multi-prong strategic plan to: recruit, retain, educate, empower and mentor female students in Computer Science and Software Engineering. His research focuses on holistic departmental strategies to increase gender diversity.  In 2018, he was awarded by ABET, the Claire L. Felbinger National Award for Diversity. He is a member of ACM, IEEE, NCWIT, and a founding member of Pacesetters at NCWIT.