Mark Fontenot

Clinical Professor - Department of Computer Science and Engineering

  Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

Faculty Fellow - Hart Center for Engineering Leadership

Faculty Fellow - Caruth Institute for Engineering Education

Southern Methodist University

About

Mark Fontenot is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the Lyle School of Engineering. He teaches classes focusing on software development, software engineering, and database systems. Previously, he was Founding Faculty-in-Residence of Loyd Residentail Commons, and he served as Director of First Year Engineering Design in the Lyle School. His research interests are in engineering education focusing on the measurement of individual innovative behavior and fostering the creative and innovative capacity of undergraduate engineering and computer science students. In addition to teaching and research, Professor Fontenot is an academic adviser to computer science majors, and serves on various committees throughout the university. Professor Fontenot has been the recipient of numerous teaching awards at SMU including the inaugural recipient of the Provost’s Teaching Award (2013), SMU "M" Award (2015), the Rotunda Professor of the Year Award (2012), the H.O.P.E Professor of the Year Award (2008), and Outstanding Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering Award (2006-2014, 2016).

Academic Experience

Clinical Professor

Southern Methodist University
Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
Clinical Professor: May 2014 — Present
Lecturer of Computer Science: Aug 2005 — May 2014

Adjunct Instructor of Computer Science

Southern Methodist University
Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
Aug 2003 — May 2005

Teaching Assistant

Southern Methodist University
Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
Aug 2001 — May 2003

Research Assistant

Database Lab
Southern Methodist University
Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
May 2001 — Aug 2001

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
McNeese State University
Aug 1999 — May 2001

External Consulting




  • Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresci
    Minneapolis, MN
    Aug 2010 – Jan 2011
  • Shore, Chan, Bragalone, L. L. P.
    Dallas, TX
    Mar 2008 – Jan 2010
  • Sanchez, Whittington, Janis & Zabarte, L. L. P.
    Brownsville, TX
    Dec 2004 – Mar 2007
  • McPherson, Monk, Hughes, Bradley, Wimberly & Steele, L. L. P.,
    Port Arthur, TX
    Jul 2006 – Feb 2007
  • Mehaffy Weber, P. C.
    Houston, TX
    Jul 2005 – Jun 2006
  • Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, Feld, L. L. P.
    Dallas, TX
    Jan 2003 – Jun 2004

Courses Taught




See markfontenot.net for additional information on the courses I teach.

  • Introduction to Engineering Design - Lead Instructor
  • Introduction to Computer Science (C++ & Java)
  • Principles of Computer Science I (CS1) (C++ & Java)/li>
  • Principles of Computer Science I - Honors (CS1) (C++ & Java)/li>
  • Principles of Computer Science II (CS2) (C++)
  • Principles of Computer Science II - Honors (CS2) (C++)
  • Data Structures
  • Database Concepts
  • Introduction to Data Management
  • Special Topics on Advanced Problem Solving (CSE 5190)
    Topic: Competition Programming
  • Special Topics in Software Development (CSE 5390)
    Topic: Advanced Software Development in C++

Service Activities




  • Faculty-in-Residence
    Loyd Residential Commons
    Aug 2014 — Present
    Cockrell-McIntosh Residence Hall
    Aug 2011 — 2014
    Aug 2009 — May 2010
  • Director of Introduction to Engineering Design Program
    Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
    Aug 2013 — Present
  • Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
    Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SMU
    Aug 2007 — Present
  • Undergraduate Academic Adviser
    Department of Computer Science and Engineering
    Aug 2005 — Present
  • Faculty Sponsor
    ACM @ SMU Student Organization Aug 2006 — Present
  • Faculty-in-Residence Program Committee
    Jan 2011 — May 2012
  • CSE Department Advisory Board Subcommittee on Student Activities
    Aug 2006 — May 2011
  • Residence Live and Student Housing User Group
    Development of Residential Commons to open Fall 2014
    Feb 2010 — Jan 2011
  • Mustang Corral — Faculty Camp Director
    Summers of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012
  • Contest Director
    SMU Annual Metroplex Programming Competitions
    Mar 2006, Apr 2007
  • Coach
    SMU Competition Programming Team
    Aug 2003 — May 2011

Externally Funded Proposals and Support

  • National Science Foundation, “Today’s Scholars, Tomorrow’s Leaders: Identifying and Developing Engineers as Leaders”, Award # 0849772, David A. Willis (PI), Mark E. Fontenot (co-PI), and Betsy F. Willis (co-PI), $596,307, June 1, 2009 – May 31, 2014.

  • Hewlett-Packard, Teaching for Technology Grant program, “Creating an Interactive Engineering and Computer Science Classroom using Tablet PCs”, David A. Willis (PI), Paul S. Krueger (co-PI), Mark Fontenot (co-PI), and Jim Yu (co-PI), $77,000, May 1, 2008 – April 30, 2010.

Honors and Awards

  • 2013 — 2014 Outstanding Faculty Member - Department of Computer Science and Engineering

  • 2013 Provost's Teaching Recognition Award - Inagural Recipient

  • 2012 — 2013 Outstanding Faculty Member - Department of Computer Science and Engineering

  • 2012 Rotunda Yearbook Professor of the Year Recipient

  • 2011 — 2012 Outstanding Faculty Member - Department of Computer Science and Engineering

  • 2010 — 2011 Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Member - Department of Computer Science and Engineering

  • 2009 — 2010 Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Member - Department of Computer Science and Engineering

  • 2008 — 2009 Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Member - Department of Computer Science and Engineering

  • 2008 H.O.P.E. (Honoring Our Professors' Excellence) Professor of the year

  • 2007 — 2008 Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Member - Department of Computer Science and Engineering

  • 2007 — 2008 Cockrell-McIntosh Residence Hall Engineering Floor's Professor of the Year

  • 2006 — 2007 Outstanding Undergraduate Faculty Member - Department of Computer Science and Engineering

  • 2005 Frederick Terman Award in Computer Science

Personal info

Name Mark Fontenot
Address P. O. Box 750122
Dallas, TX 75275
E-Mail mfonten@lyle.smu.edu
Phone 214.768.2854
Fax 214.768.3085
Office 441 Caruth Hall
Blog markfontenot.net