Janet Davis is a renowned computer scientist and a pioneer in promoting computer science in the liberal arts. She received her undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Harvey Mudd College, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Washington. Janet began her career as an Instructor at the University of Washington, followed by teaching positions at Grinnell College, where she was also the Director of the Wilson Program in Enterprise and Leadership. She now leads the development of a new computer science department and major as the founding computer scientist and Microsoft Chair of Computer Science at Whitman College.

Janet's love for teaching and undergraduate education took root while she was studying for her Ph.D. Her teaching philosophy, which emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation, earned her a reputation as a dynamic leader. Over the years, Janet's research has been focused on operating systems, file systems, computer networks, and algorithms. Her experience as a research assistant at the University of Washington has helped her build an interdisciplinary approach to research, which has had a profound impact on her teaching.

Janet sees herself as an advocate for both computer science in the liberal arts and for the liberal arts in computer science. Her contributions to the field have been recognized many times throughout her career, including the ACM Distinguished Educator award in 2012. In addition to computer science, Janet enjoys gardening, cooking, biking, and playing jazz music on the piano.