In Memoriam
The Task Force Steering Committee deeply mourns the untimely death of Brett Becker (1976-2024), one of its members. We dedicate this page to his memory.
From one Jersey Boy to another:
Brett was everywhere, all the time, all at once, and always flawless at everything – whether it was area (Curriculum, LLM use in computer science, Computer science education research, to mention but a few), conferences (SIGCSE Technical Symposium, hosting ITiCSE, steering CompEd to name a few), service (SIGCSE Board, conference committees, and my favorite – CS2023), or country (Ireland, China, USA, Australia to mention just a few countries). But, he always took pride in being a “Jersey boy”, with roots in New Jersey (USA). We’ll dearly miss you Brett!
Amruth Kumar, another Jersey Boy.
For someone who was as talented and prolific as Brett, he remained one of the most modest people I have known. Brett was truly a pioneer in everything he touched in the breadth and depth of computer science education. For the CS2023 effort, he strove to make “Society, Ethics, and the Profession (SEP) knowledge area unavoidable” to both educators and students, and he was instrumental in ensuring the other CS2023 knowledge areas also explicitly included elements of SEP so that the next generation of CS graduates are better prepared to meet societal challenges well. Beyond CS, Brett was one of the nicest people ever, helping old friends and new acquaintances alike. The world is a better place for having had your presence! Goodbye, my friend!
Rajendra K. Raj
Brett was a friend, colleague, and advocate for computer science education. He was dedicated to teaching students both technical skills and their broader impact on the profession and society. Brett aimed to produce ethical graduates who would make a positive difference in the world. Practical, pragmatic, and persuasive, he always engaged in thought-provoking and enjoyable conversations. We will miss you, Brett.
Michael Oudshoorn