From April 23-25, Troy University’s Department of Computer Science welcomed researchers, educators and students from across the country for the 2026 ACM Southeast Conference. One of the longest-running regional conferences affiliated with the Association for Computing Machinery Southeast Conference, ACMSE brought together more than 50 attendees to discuss emerging research and innovations in computer science and technology.

Representatives from universities across the nation attended the conference, including Auburn University, Clemson University, University of Connecticut, Kennesaw State University, Missouri State University and more.

Dr. Bernard Chen, Chair of the Department of Computer Science, said hosting the conference was a significant achievement for both the University and the department.

“This conference reinforces TROY’s role as a contributor to the broader computer science community. We are not simply teaching existing knowledge—we are helping create, share and advance new knowledge,” he said. “By hosting scholars and fostering collaboration among universities, students and industry professionals, TROY becomes part of the larger ecosystem driving computing research, technological innovation and STEM education across Alabama and the Southeast region.” 

By bringing a nationally recognized research conference directly to the Troy Campus, Chen said both undergraduate and graduate students can grow not just academically, but professionally as future leaders in the technology workforce.

“This sends a strong message that TROY is committed to providing access to high-level academic and research experiences,” he said. “They can engage with leading researchers, attend technical presentations, present their own work and experience the atmosphere of a real research conference right here at TROY.”

Dr. Suman Kumar, TROY professor and general chair of ACMSE 2026, said he hoped attendees left the conference with fresh ideas and a positive impression of the University and the City of Troy.

“I hope attendees took away a strong sense of the quality and breadth of computing research being presented at ACMSE 2026, along with new ideas they can apply in their own research, teaching and professional work,” he said. “I also hope they experienced Troy University’s southern hospitality, the Trojan Way and the welcoming environment of our campus.”

Among the conference highlights were keynote presentations focused on artificial intelligence, healthcare computing and next-generation technologies. Featured keynote speakers included: Lakshman Tamil, “AI for Healthcare: Building a Secure, Scalable, and Equitable Future of Clinical Intelligence;” Xiaowen Gong,“Towards Flexible Federated Learning;” Chris Crawford, “Exploring Next-Generation Physiological Interfaces” and “Broadening CI Workforce Development for Quantum-Based Machine Learning Research in Science and Engineering;” Vishwas Lele, “Architecting Reliable and Verifiable AI with Retrieval-Augmented Generation;” and Jay Snellen, “An Introduction to Embedded Systems Programming.”

“These sessions were especially valuable because they helped students see how artificial intelligence, federated learning, healthcare computing and physiological interfaces are shaping the future of computing,” Kumar said. “These talks connected advanced technical topics to real-world challenges and gave students a broader view of where the field is heading.”

Dr. Byungkwan Jung, assistant professor of computer science, said the conference’s emphasis on emerging technologies and research trends helped make the event particularly successful.

“One of the most successful aspects of the conference was its strong focus on emerging research trends and leading-edge technologies,” he said. “In addition, the conference logistics were exceptionally well organized, and the staffing support was highly efficient throughout the event.”

For many students, the conference provided valuable networking opportunities and inspiration for future careers.

TROY student Justin Talley, a senior cybersecurity major from Millbrook, Alabama, said he attended the conference hoping to meet professionals in his field and make lasting connections.

“I had a wonderful experience there,” Talley said. “Everyone was very kind, knowledgeable and helpful. Seeing other people’s creativity and drive to make the world a better place was very uplifting and encouraging. Witnessing the ingenuity and problem-solving skills of the people that presented was truly a humbling experience.”

University of West Florida student Olivia Bunch, a software design and development major with minors in computer science and computer engineering, said she was especially excited to attend this year’s event after being unable to help present the paper she co-authored at last year’s conference.

“I served as the primary author of our submission this year and wanted the opportunity to fully experience a conference dedicated to my field of computer science,” she said. “Throughout the conference, I was amazed by the creativity, technical depth and innovation demonstrated in the projects and studies presented by other researchers. Listening to scientists discuss advancements across so many areas of computing was both inspiring and motivating.”

By the end of the conference, Bunch said she gained a new perspective on her own work and her place within the academic community.

“I realized that I was surrounded by some of the brightest minds in computer science and technology — individuals who were actively shaping the future of science through their research — and that I was contributing alongside them as a fellow researcher,” she said. “Recognizing myself not only as an attendee, but as a peer and contributor within that community, was an incredibly rewarding and affirming experience.”

During a banquet held on the second night of the conference at the Troy Country Club, several awards were given including Best Short Paper, Best Full Paper, Outstanding Reviewer and programming contest winners.

Award winners are as follows:

ACMSE 2027 will be hosted at Athens State University in Athens, Alabama.

A gallery of the event can be found here.