FAIRFAX, VA (TIP): The University of Fairfax has announced the appointment of Dr. Rajan Thapaliya as Asst. Dean of Computer Science, Cybersecurity & Information Technology, further strengthening the University’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and career-focused education in today’s high-demand technology disciplines.
Dr. Thapaliya is a distinguished academic leader, award-winning professor, and recognized voice in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Machine Learning, Computer Science, and emerging technologies. He brings extensive experience in academic administration, doctoral program leadership, faculty development, curriculum innovation, and student success initiatives across graduate and doctoral programs.
Prior to joining the University of Fairfax, Dr. Thapaliya served as Program Chair for the doctoral-level (DBA) program in Digital and Computer Science at Golden Gate University (GGU Worldwide). In that role, he supported academic quality assurance, accreditation-aligned program oversight, doctoral supervision, assessment strategies, and strategic program development.
Dr. Thapaliya has also been recognized as one of the Top 20 Machine Learning Influencers in the United States by Influencer Hero, highlighting his impact as a technology thought leader and mentor to students, researchers, and professionals worldwide.
As Asst. Dean, Dr. Thapaliya will play a key leadership role in advancing the University of Fairfax’s academic mission by enhancing faculty engagement, curriculum excellence, academic innovation, program assessment, and student success strategies across the University’s computer science, cybersecurity, and information technology programs.
As a professor, Dr. Thapaliya teaches MS- and PhD-level courses in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, and Information Technology at universities across the United States. He also serves as a PhD Dissertation Chair and Subject Matter Expert (SME), guiding doctoral learners in advanced interdisciplinary research. In addition, he contributes to the academic community as an editor and peer reviewer for multiple scholarly journals and academic publishing platforms.
Dr. Thapaliya defines leadership as serving others through vision, integrity, and continuous improvement, while empowering students and faculty to achieve excellence through collaboration, innovation, and lifelong learning.
The University of Fairfax, established in 2002, was founded to meet the growing demand for career-focused education. The University’s mission is to provide flexible, in-demand distance education programs that meet the evolving needs of employers and students in a changing global marketplace. Its programs foster critical thinking, effective communication, and collaboration through practitioner-focused curricula that advance applied knowledge and research.
With his blend of academic excellence, professional expertise, and forward-thinking leadership, Dr. Rajan Thapaliya is expected to contribute significantly to the University of Fairfax’s long-term success while inspiring future technology leaders in an increasingly digital world.
For more information, visit:
https://ufairfax.edu/team_member/dr-rajan-thapaliya-dean-of-computer-science-cybersecurity-it/
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