Sharon Mason Headshot

Sharon Mason

Director, School of Information

Dean’s Office
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
spmics@rit.edu
Office Location
GOL-2319

Sharon Mason

Director, School of Information

Dean’s Office
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences

Education

BS, Ithaca College; MS, Rochester Institute of Technology; Ph.D., University at Buffalo

Bio

Sharon Mason is Director and Professor in the School of Information at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she has been a faculty member since 1997. Her research focuses on improving student and faculty success in computing and STEM, with particular emphasis on supporting minoritized and marginalized populations. Her work explores growth mindset, problem solving, collaborative learning, and evidence-based educational practices that promote student achievement and persistence.

Dr. Mason has been awarded more than $8 million in external research funding as principal investigator or co-principal investigator and has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications, along with numerous invited presentations and keynote talks.

She currently leads RIT's participation in two National Science Foundation (NSF) initiatives. As RIT Principal Investigator for the S-STEM Net Research Hub – Advancing Resilience, she collaborates with researchers across more than a dozen universities to investigate how institutional supports and coordinated interventions shape resilience, persistence, and workforce success among academically talented, low-income computing and engineering students. She also serves as Principal Investigator for ENGAgE: College of Computing Scholars, ENhancing Academic Growth-mindset Academic Experiences, an NSF S-STEM project that integrates growth mindset throughout academic and career support systems to improve student success.

Throughout her career, Dr. Mason has led initiatives to broaden participation in computing and support the advancement of women in STEM. She was a co-principal investigator on RIT's NSF ADVANCE project, which strengthened institutional practices supporting the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women faculty. She also founded RIT Women in Computing (WiC), creating programs that support women students, faculty, and staff while expanding outreach to K–12 students. Her leadership has extended nationally through service with the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), where she served on the Executive Committee as co-chair of the Academic Alliance Committee and contributed to national efforts to improve recruitment and retention in computing.

Dr. Mason has also served as principal investigator and co-principal investigator on Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program awards supporting graduate education in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and information assurance. In addition, she served for five years as GCCIS Faculty Associate for Student Scholarships, Issues and Advising, overseeing student scholarship programs and helping resolve complex student academic matters.

In 2023, she was awarded the Eisenhart Award for Oustanding Teaching, the highest honor for tenured faculty at RIT. Dr. Mason's research and leadership continue to focus on improving computing education, supporting student success, and creating opportunities for more students to succeed in STEM.

spmics@rit.edu
Personal Links
Curriculum Vitae
Areas of Expertise
Computing Education

Select Scholarship

Published Conference Proceedings
Weeden, Elissa and Sharon P Mason. "An Initial Survey of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Student Use of a Composite Screen Solution Utilizing Web Conferencing Software." Proceedings of the 21st Annual Conference on Information Technology Education. Ed. Deepak Khazanchi and Harvey Siy. Virtual, United States: n.p., 2020. Web.
Mason, Sharon P. "Collaborative Learning in Computing Education: Faculty Perspectives and Practices." Proceedings of the 2020 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research. Ed. Amy Ko and Anthony Robbins. Virtual, New Zealand: n.p., 2020. Web.
Dell, Elizabet, et al. "Career Navigation Initiatives for Women STEM Faculty in Support of Institutional Transformation." Proceedings of the 2017 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. n/a. Columbus, OH: n.p., 2017. Web.
Mason, Sharon P. "Examining Faculty Perceptions and Approaches to Problem Solving, Reflective Learning and Social Learning in a Computing Education Program: An Exploratory Case Study." Proceedings of the 20th Annual SIG Conference on Information Technology Education. Ed. Brian Goda and Stephen Zilora. Tacoma, Washington: n.p., 2019. Web.
Mason, S., et al. "AdvanceRIT Connect Grants: Driving Momentum for Disruptive Change for Women STEM Faculty." Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. . Seattle, WA: n.p., 2015. Web.
Bailey, M., et al. "Institutional Transformation Guided by a Multi-frame Organizational Analysis Approach." Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. . Seattle, WA: n.p., 2015. Web.
Marchetti, C., et al. "Collaboration: The Key to Leading Institutional Transformation." Proceedings of the ACM Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. Ed. . Houston, TX: n.p., 2015. Print.
Marchetti, S. Mason, C., et al. "Institutional Transformation at a Large Private Technical University: Reporting on the Accomplishments of a Combined Data Driven Top Down and Bottom Up Approach." Proceedings of the 2014 IEEE Frontiers in Education. Ed. Unknown. Madrid, Spain: n.p., 2014. Web.
Mason, S., et al. "Transforming an Institution Using Data to Inform Creative Interventions." Proceedings of the 2014 ACM & Anita Borg Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. Ed. . Phoenix, AZ: n.p., 2014. Print.
S., Mason, et al. "Faculty Awards at a Large Private Institution: An Indicator of Evolving University Values?" Proceedings of the 2014 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. Unknown. Indianapolis, IN: n.p., 2014. Web.
Johnson, D., et al. "Designing, Constructing and Implementing a Low-Cost Virtualization Cluster for Education." Proceedings of the 7th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics, and Informatics. Orlando, FL: n.p., 2013. Web.
Hartpence, B., et al. "Natural Selection in Virtualization Environments: A Decade of Lessons from Academia." Proceedings of the 7th International Multi-Conference on Society, Cybernetics, and Informatics. Orlando, FL: n.p., 2013. Web.
Marchetti, C, et al. "Perceived Levels of Faculty Value, Influence, and Satisfaction by Gender, Rank, Ethnicity, College, and Department at a Large Private University." Proceedings of the 2012 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. Ed. ASEE. San Antonio, TX: ASEE, 2012. Web.
Bailey, M., et al. "Establishing the Foundation for Future Organizational Reform and Transformation at a Large Private University to Expand the Representation of Women Faculty." Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Ed. American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition. Vancouver, Canada: ASEE, 2011. Print.
National/International Competition Award Winner
Mason, Sharon. William Stackpole. Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program. Washington, DC, MD, 2014.
Bailey, M, et al. National Science Foundation. ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Grant: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers. Rochester, NY, 2012.
Mason, S. (PI) and Stackpole, W. (Co-PI). Department of Defense. Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship Program. Rochester, NY, 2012.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Lewis, C, et al. "How You Can Make a Difference: Bootstrapping Efforts Toward Gender Balance, Birds of a Feather Presentation." 2012 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. The Anita Borg Institute. Baltimore, MD. 2-6 Oct. 2012. Conference Presentation.
Goodall, J., et al. "Are We There Yet? 21st Century Juggling of an Academic Career and Family Life, Birds of a Feather Presentation." 2012 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference. Anita Borg Institute. Baltimore, MD. 2-6 Oct. 2012. Conference Presentation.
Bailey, M. and Marchetti, C., Mason, S. "Conversing on Diversity of Women Faculty: Women Faculty, Asset or Liability?" American Association of University Women. American Association of University Women. Rochester, NY. 28 Apr. 2012. Address.

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