Richard Rasala

Professor Emeritus

  • PhD, Harvard University

Richard Rasala is a professor emeritus in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University.

After joining Khoury College in 1982 (its founding year), Rasala pioneered the use of software toolkits to teach computer science concepts to first-year and upper-level students. He developed toolkits in C++, Java, and C#, with his most extensive toolkit, written in collaboration with Professor Viera Proulx, being Java Power Tools. This toolkit supports robust input-output; rapid creation of graphical user interfaces; tools for shapes, graphics, transforms, and function plots; and sophisticated tools for software testing. The toolkit greatly simplifies programming for students and is structured to provide an exemplary model for software design.

Rasala also developed the model for combined major programs, which is now common at Northeastern. He also contributed to college- and university-wide curriculum reform efforts. In collaboration with his faculty colleagues, Rasala wrote more than 20 papers and participated in panel presentations, tutorials, and working groups to address key issues in computer science education. He also advocated for the early introduction of design concepts in the curriculum.

Before joining Khoury College, Rasala was a member of Northeastern's mathematics faculty and conducted research on abstract algebra.