The following message was sent by College of Engineering Dean JoAnn Lighty to college staff.
Today, on behalf of Boise State University and the College of Engineering, I am thrilled to announce that Ira Burton has been appointed the inaugural director of Boise State’s School of Computing. A new vibrant hub empowering computing across disciplines for our university.
Ira is a proud double alumnus of Boise State with a master’s degree in Computer Science and dual bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science. He is a visionary with exceptional talent and leadership in the changing world of computing.
The School of Computing represents a bold step forward for Boise State. Computing is not just an aspect of computer science or engineering in today’s society. Boise State is uniquely positioned in the Intermountain West to supercharge computing across our seven academic colleges– uniting fundamental computing through interdisciplinary applications for greater societal impacts driving innovation, collaboration, and excellence. Ira’s deep passion for these pillars make him the ideal leader for this transformative school.
The School of Computing will be located within the Boise State College of Engineering but will serve as the backbone for the entire university, embedding computational power and literacy, and evolving technologies throughout our academic experiences.
Ira returns to Boise State following a distinguished 28-year career at Micron Technology, where he most recently served as Director of Strategic Engineering for the Systems Integration Group. In this role, he was responsible for product management, business processes, and new product introductions for a $300M division. He oversaw labs spanning five countries, ensuring compliance with ISO and NIST certifications, and led efforts to enhance every stage of engineering, from ideation to high-volume manufacturing. His dedication to continuous improvement, cost efficiency, and operational excellence has been a hallmark of his career.
Beyond his technical and operational expertise, Ira is a servant leader who prioritizes personal growth and mentorship. Throughout his career, he has championed diverse teams, mentoring individuals across various roles and backgrounds. His extensive leadership experience spans software, electrical, and mechanical engineering disciplines, alongside product management and business operations—a multidisciplinary perspective that perfectly aligns with the College of Engineering’s mission.
As a former senior software engineer, Ira’s technical achievements include building compilers for custom ASICs, developing embedded IO subsystems, and modifying kernel modules to support real-time performance for DRAM testing. These experiences, combined with his visionary leadership, uniquely position him to guide the School of Computing into an exciting future.
I want to thank Tim Andersen, Jodi Mead, and Rich Stuppy as the catalysts who brought the idea for a School of Computing together, the search committee, faculty, and staff for their vision, leadership, and commitment to innovation in establishing this new school initiative. With our incredible teams and the support from the Idaho State Board of Education, this is the beginning for much more impact to come.
Please join me in welcoming Ira Burton back to Boise State. Under his leadership, the School of Computing will empower students and faculty, advance groundbreaking research, and contribute meaningfully to the industries and communities we serve.
JoAnn S. Lighty
Dean, College of Engineering