Computer Science

Jason Hanson, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Hanson earned his doctorate in mathematics from the University of Hawaii, where he studied algebraic topology. He also holds a master’s degree in physics from the University of Virginia, as well as an undergraduate degree in astronomy from the University of Massachusetts. Prior to teaching at DigiPen, Dr. Hanson taught at U.S. military bases in South Korea for the University of Maryland. His non-academic experience includes working as a computer programmer at NASA GISS in New York.

Since coming to DigiPen in 2000, Dr. Hanson has taught a wide variety of classes in both the Computer Science and Mathematics departments, including calculus, programming, data structures, algorithm analysis, computer graphics, data compression, sound synthesis, and animation techniques.

Selected Publications

• Dovermann, K.H., Hanson, J., and Little, R.D., “Examples of Algebraically Realized Maps,” Geometriae Dedicata, 186: 1, 2017.
• Hanson, Jason, “Orthogonal Decomposition of Lorentz Transformations,” General Relativity and Gravitation, 45:599, 2013.
• Aristidou, Michael and Hanson, Jason, “Logarithm of the Discrete Fourier Transform,” International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences, vol. 2007, Article ID 20682, 3 pages, 2007.
• Hanson, J. and Dovermann K. H., “Tensor Products of Symmetric Functions over Z2,” Central European Journal of Mathematics 3, no. 2, 2005.

Gary Herron, Ph.D.

Professor

Dr. Herron received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Utah, in 1979. His particular fields of study were Geometric Modeling and Computer Graphics. Since them he has spent nearly 40 years working in those fields, in both academic and industrial settings. In academia, he conducted a research program that produced about 20 refereed papers, movies, and conference presentations, along with a number of master’s students, and a Ph.D. student. In industry, he worked for Applied Geometry / Alias|Wavefront / SGI producing the surface and curve software libraries that form the mathematical basis for several geometric modeling and design systems.

Since coming to Digipen in 2003, Dr. Herron has taught a wide range of Computer Graphics courses from sophomore through graduate student levels.

Samir Abou Samra

Chief Technology Officer
Principal Lecturer (Affiliate Faculty)

Samir Abou Samra is a 12-year veteran of the video game industry with 15 years of experience teaching computer science and video game production classes.

Samra has held high-ranking positions at a number of technology companies, including Founder and CEO of Multitek, Lead Engineer at Nintendo Software Technology, Vice President of Operations at Nintendo Software Incorporated, Canada, and CEO of Al Kalam Al Electronic. He was also in charge of the production team that produced the FunEditor, a tool that allows users to create any genre of two-dimensional game. In addition to serving as Chief Technology Officer and Director of the BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation program, Samra has also led DigiPen simulation projects for clients ranging from Boeing to Renault F1.

“Given my background in both academia and industry, I strive to provide the student with the theory and concepts they will need for industry-level implementation,” Samra says. “As I have had the chance to teach almost all the computer science courses, I fully understand DigiPen’s Computer Science program.”

Samra has bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees in computer science from the Lebanese American University. He is also the co-author of eight U.S. patents related to game technology and computer science.

Game Credits

• Wave Race: Blue Storm (Nintendo GameCube, 2001)
• Ridge Racer 64 (Nintendo 64, 2000)
• Pokemon Puzzle League (Nintendo 64, 2000)
• Crystallis (Game Boy Color, 2000)
• Bionic Commando (Game Boy Color, 2000)

Claude Comair

President and Founder
Faculty Emeritus

Mr. Claude Comair earned a degree in architecture and became a professional engineer in 1984. He was then invited by the Japanese Ministry of Education to become a government researcher positioned at Osaka University, Faculty of Engineering in Osaka, Japan. Later, he earned his master’s degree in environmental engineering from Osaka University. He completed five more years of doctorate studies at Osaka University, Faculty of Engineering, and is currently working on his doctorate thesis, which he will present to the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland. While in Japan in the 1980s, Mr. Comair helped to develop 3D visualization software which was utilized to simulate different events (e.g. earthquakes, etc.) in various cities.

In 1988, Mr. Comair applied his experience and passion for the game and simulation industries to addressing its need for innovation and a skilled workforce by founding DigiPen Corporation in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. In 1998, he co-founded Nintendo Software Technology in Redmond, Washington, a subsidiary of Nintendo Co. Ltd. As Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Nintendo Software Technology, he oversaw the production of such game titles as Mario vs. Donkey Kong 1 and 2 (2004 and 2006), Ridge Racer 64 and DS (2000 and 2004), The Legend of Zelda (2003), 1080° Avalanche (2003), Wave Race: Blue Storm (2001), Pokémon Puzzle League (2000), Bionic Commando (2000), and many others. He has also created and registered numerous patents for Nintendo and Boeing.

Mr. Comair taught at DigiPen for more than two decades, and his expertise and passion for the industry and innovation continue to guide the curriculum and culture of DigiPen Institute of Technology today.

Selected Game Credits

• Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis (2006)
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2004)
• Ridge Racer DS (2004)
• The Legend of Zelda (2003)
• 1080° Avalanche (2003)
• Wave Race: Blue Storm (2001)
• Ridge Racer 64 (2000)
• Pokémon Puzzle League (2000)
• Bionic Commando (2000)