Meet the Faculty - Daniel Orban
Tell us about your journey to the University of Minnesota.
I graduated from Oklahoma State University with my undergraduate degree in 2002 and worked in the software development industry for 10 years. I spent most of my time in Silicon Valley, Austin, Texas, and Minneapolis. My plan was to eventually go back to graduate school. Therefore, when the opportunity to work in computer graphics with Professor Dan Keefe presented itself, I jumped on board. As part of the Interactive Visualization Lab, we worked with local medical device companies and the UMN Medical Device Center on a visualization project to better understand cardiac lead design. During that time, I decided to take some classes, eventually becoming one of Dan’s PhD students. I graduated from my PhD program in 2021.
While I was in grad school, I was a TA for several undergraduate classes, eventually becoming the lead TA for CSCI 3881 - Program Design and Development. That experience made me realize how much I loved to teach. To my excitement, the department offered me the opportunity to teach courses as a graduate student. After graduation, I worked for a nonprofit, focusing on developing and teaching K-12 computer science curriculum. Our goal was to decrease the gap for students from low-income families in Minneapolis area public and private schools. I became an adjunct instructor for the department in the spring of 2024 and ultimately decided to come back full-time in fall 2024.
What do you like about computer science?
Computer science is a unique discipline that balances theory with application. We humans are creative beings, and computer science allows you to create new products and even new worlds. I think of coding as an art form, a beautiful canvas for balancing efficiency and flexibility. Our creations extend beyond numbers and problem solving.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
I love getting to know my students. They experience far more going than attempting to understand complex ideas. In fact, I often learn from them and am humbled to be part of their lives for a short time. I enjoy problem solving together and watching them succeed. Students have fantastic ideas and I look forward to their future. It is rewarding to know that your hard work will live on in people as they become the next technical and world leaders.
What courses are you teaching this spring? What can students expect to get out of that class?
This spring I am teaching CSCI 4611 - Computer Graphics and CSCI 4041- Data Structures and Algorithms. Computer graphics is a fun, visual way to learn, and students enjoy the challenge. The intellectual pursuit of algorithms and data structures, touches all areas of computer science, foundational to more complex topics.
In the fall, I will be teaching CSCI 3081 - Program Design and Development. We will not only study practical skills that are needed to succeed in the industry, but also how to design creative, robust, and testable software. I am enjoying developing exciting projects that are occasionally even fun. In fact, I enjoy challenging students to take risks and try new things. I am also teaching CSCI 2081, which is the data science version of that class, so it will be a software development semester.
What do you do outside of the classroom for fun?
I love to play Legos with my kids. I have a 6 year old son and an 11 year old daughter. In our free time, you probably will find us playing at the local parks with our dog. We raise chickens and goats at our family farm in the country, where we also have a vegetable garden. We grow our own food over the summer and share the harvest with our neighbors. Outside of work, we live a fairly non-technical life. We like to create structures and work with our hands. In fact, we are currently building a treehouse and a doghouse. My son loves to tell me what to do. I imagine someday he will be a project manager.
Do you have a favorite spot in the city?
I often explore different parks with my kids. One of the parks the kids love is Minnehaha Park, where we like to rollerblade and bike.
Is there anything else you would like students to know about you?
I’m excited to see what students come up with in the future. I hope we never forget that we are human and that we continue to focus on aspects of reality that make life worth living.