Professor Leila De Floriani Begins Term on IEEE Board of Directors

A University of Maryland expert in geometric modeling, data visualization and spatial data science has assumed a senior leadership role within IEEE, the world’s largest professional association dedicated to advancing technology.

Leila De Floriani, a professor of geographical sciences with an appointment in the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), began a two-year term as the Division V Director with the IEEE Board of Directors, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

In this role, De Floriani will provide senior leadership for IEEE and help oversee its processes and finances, while also representing the organization’s technical societies across the globe.

For the past year, De Floriani has served as director-elect for this position, a traditional process that allows for a seamless transition in helping guide an organization that has more than 500,000 members worldwide.

De Floriani says she plans to grow several initiatives she started when she was president of the IEEE Computer Society, including advancing financial stewardship, novel strategies to increase publications by IEEE members, and expanding professional education offerings, including AI-guided services for additional member support.

“I think in this expanded role within the organization I can be effective, not only because of my own experience, but also because IEEE itself has been successful over the past years, allowing us to invest in new initiatives in the IEEE mission for the benefit of the humanity,” she says.

De Floriani previously served as IEEE Division VIII Director in 2023–24, as president of the IEEE Computer Society during the COVID-19 pandemic and has held other leadership roles including editor-in-chief of a major IEEE journal. She also serves on several IEEE committees, including the Product and Services and the Audit Committees.

Her own research involves spatial data analysis, topology-based machine learning, and data visualization, and she has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications on these subjects. Her work has been funded by national and international agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the European Commission.

In addition to her academic appointments at UMD, De Floriani has held academic and research positions in the United States and Europe, including a previous professorship at the University of Genova in Italy.

This article was written by Zsana Hoskins and originally published by the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS).

Published on Wed, 01/14/2026 - 11:25