Jennifer E. Walter

Professor Emerita
Department of Computer Science
Vassar College

Email: jewalter@vassar.edu

“When you are the only woman in a group, you are no longer a woman; you are THE woman, as if your actions stand for that of your entire gender.” – Elise Stickles (VC '09).

• VWiCS Program Announcement
  
  

• VWiCS members at the 2007 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Orlando, FL
  Participants, from left to right, bottom to top row: Claire Crawford, Elise Stickles, Irina Dumitrescu, Alison Abreu-Garcia, Anca Sarb, and Nicole Rosard.
• VWiCS members at the 2008 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Keystone, CO
  Participants, from left to right: Nancy Ide, Elise Stickles, Claire Crawford, Jenny Walter, Sonia Roberts, Irina Dumitrescu, Anca Sarb, and Jacky Kory.
• VWiCS members at the 2009 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, Tuscon, AZ
  Participants, from left to right, bottom to top row: Cordelia McGee, Jamee Bateau, Jenny Walter, Kristin Schau, Nancy Ide, Prairie Rose Goodwin, and Carolyn Grabill.
• VWiCS members at the 2010 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Atlanta, GA
  Participants, from left to right, bottom to top row: Jamee Bateau, Prairie Rose Goodwin, Carolyn Grabill, Burcu Noyan, Jacky Kory, Lily Pytel, Jenny Walter, and Kristin Schau.
• Sorry, no picture of VWiCS members at the 2011 GHC in Portland, OR…but Kristin Schau, Alexandra Reynolds, and Jenny Walter were there
• VWiCS members at the 2012 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Baltimore, MD Participants, from left to right: Robin Lam, Allyson Pemberton, Catherine Morgan, Sandy Pogarcic, Jenny Walter, Lily Pytel, and Vex Batchelder.
• VWiCS members at the 2013 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Minneapolis, MN Participants, from left to right: Vivian Chen, Stephanie Zhu, Asia Bryant, Katie Thornhill, Catherine Morgan, Allyson Pemberton, and Jenny Walter.
• VWiCS members at the 2014 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Phoenix, AZ. Participants, from left to right: Rose Serafini, Allyson Pemberton, Cat Morgan, Steph Zhu, Jenny Walter, Carly Bloomfeld, Laura Barreto, Gilean Tan, and Victoria Bachurska.
• Pre-trip participants in the 2015 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Houston, TX.
  (back row couch) Isabella Cuba, Rebecca Weir, Emily Martin, Juleen Graham, Heather Kettlewell, (seated on couch) Rose Serafini, Kathryn Hodge, Jenny Walter, Thao Nguyen, (back row floor) Carly Bloomfeld, Kelly Yu, Olivia Price, Alexandra Alacantera, Angela Assante, Madeline Grey, (front row floor) Laura Barreto, and Steph Zhu.
• Sorry, no picture of VWiCS members at the 2016 GHC in Houston, TX…but 18 of us were there!!
• Participants in the 2017 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Orlando, FL. (back row: Eve Coulibaly, Madeline Lansbury, Piper Yang, Kristin Diep, May Li, Beatrix Jones, Madison Stiefel, Simone Johnson, Zuheily Quinones, and Clarisel Paulino; (second row) Kaya Deuser, Samana Shrestha, and Juleen Graham; (front row) Grace Bae, Rachel Fisher, Thao Nguyen, Olivia Fiol, Jenny Walter, Rachel Matheson, Marian Lam, and Abigail Ren. Missing from photo: Angela Assante, Isabella Cuba, and Emily Stamm.
• 2017 was my last trip to GHC, but if you are interested, please look into applying for a scholarship. Any CMPU faculty member should be able to steer you in the right direction!

• CMPU101 - Introduction to Computer Science (Vassar): Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2013, Spring 2013, Fall 2012, Fall 2011, Spring 2011, Spring 2010, Spring 2009, Fall 2008, Spring 2008, Fall 2007, Fall 2006, Fall 2005, Spring 2005, Fall 2003, Fall 2001
  
  
• CMPU102 - Introduction to object-oriented programming (Vassar): Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Fall 2010, Spring 2010, Fall 2009, Spring 2005, Fall 2004, Spring 2003, Fall 2002, Spring 2002
  
  
• CMPU125 - Topics in Computer Science (CMPU101-102 combination): Fall 2008
  
  
• CMPU240 - Language theory and Computation (Vassar): Fall 2007, Fall 2006, Fall 2002
  
  
• CMPU241 - Algorithmics (Vassar): Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2011, Spring 2009, Spring 2008, Spring 2006, Spring 2003, Spring 2002
  
  
• CMPU342 - Algorithmic Geometry (Vassar) *New course*, Spring 2006
  
  
• CPSC433 - Formal Languages and Automata (Texas A&M): Summer 2001, Spring 2001

Development, analysis, and simulation of distributed algorithms. In particular, my work has concentrated on development of distributed algorithms for mobile ad hoc networks and for modular, reconfigurable robotic systems.

To learn more about my research, please contact me via e-mail to request an appointment.

• Monographs
  
  J. Welch and J. Walter, Link Reversal Algorithms: Synthesis Lectures on Distributed Computing Theory, Morgan & Claypool Publishers, Series Editor Nancy Lynch, October 2011, 93 pages. ISBN: 9781608450411 (paperback). ISBN: 9781608450428 (ebook). This volume is a version of a work that appears in the Synthesis Digital Library of Engineering and Computer Science
  
  
  

• Journal Papers (^* indicates undergraduate student co-author)
  
  R. Ingram^*, T. Radeva, P. Shields^*, S. Viqar, J. Walter, and J. Welch, A Leader Election Algorithm for Dynamic Networks with Causal Clocks, Springer-Verlag Journal on Distributed Computing, Vol. 26, No. 2, pages 75-97, 2013.
  
  J. Walter, E. Tsai^*, and N. Amato, Algorithms for Fast Concurrent Reconfiguration of Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots, IEEE Transactions on Robotics, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 621-631, 2005.
  
  J. Walter, J. Welch, and N. Amato, Distributed Reconfiguration of Metamorphic Robot Chains, Springer-Verlag Journal on Distributed Computing, 17:171-189, 2004.
  
  J. Walter, J. Welch, and N. Amato, Concurrent metamorphosis of hexagonal robot chains into simple connected configurations, IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, Vol. 18, No. 6, pp. 945-956, 2002.
  
  J. Walter, J. Welch, and N. Vaidya, A Mutual Exclusion Algorithm for Ad Hoc Mobile Networks, Wireless Networks, Vol. 9, No. 6, November 2001, pages 585-600.
  
  
  

• Papers in refereed conferences and workshops (^*indicates undergraduate student co-author):
  
  J.Walter, Sensor-Driven Algorithm for Self-Reconfiguration of Modular Robots, in proceedings of the 2018 IEEE/IFToMM International Conference on Reconfigurable Mechanisms and Robots (ReMAR 2018) , 20-22 June 2018, Delft, The Netherlands.
  
  S. Wong^*, S. Zhu^*, and J.Walter, Unpacking a Cluster of Modular Robots, accepted to the 2015 International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Techniques and Applications, July 2015 (acceptance rate 28%).
  
  S. Wong^* and J. Walter, Deterministic Distributed Algorithm for Self-Reconfiguration of Modular Robots from Arbitrary to Straight Chain Configurations, in Proc. of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, May 2013, Kongresszentrum Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany, pages: 537 - 543 (acceptance rate 39%).
  
  J. Bateau^*, A. Clark^*, K. McEachern^*, E. Schutze^*, and J. Walter, Increasing the Efficiency of Distributed Goal-Filling Algorithms for Self-Reconfigurable Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots, Proc. of the International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Techniques and Applications, July 2012, Las Vegas, NV (acceptance rate 28%).
  
  P. Ivanov^* and J. Walter, Layering Algorithm for Collision-Free Traversal Using Hexagonal Self-Reconfigurable Metamorphic Robots, in Proc. of the IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems, Oct. 2010, Taipei, Taiwan, pages 521-528 (acceptance rate 58%).
  
  S. Matysik^* and J. Walter, Using a Pocket-Filling Strategy for Distributed Reconfiguration of a System of Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots in an Obstacle-Cluttered Environment, in Proc. of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, May 2009, Kobe, Japan, Page(s):4265 - 4272 (acceptance rate 43%).
  
  R. Ingram^*, P. Shields^*, J. Walter, and J. Welch, An Asynchronous Leader Election Algorithm for Dynamic Networks, in Proc. of the IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium, May 2009, Rome, Italy (acceptance rate 23%), 12 pages in un-numbered volume.
  
  D. Little^* and J. Walter, Using Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots to Form Temporary Bridges, in Proc. of the IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robotic Systems, Aug. 2005, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, pages 2652-2657 (acceptance rate 55%).
  
  J. Kamunyori^* and J. Walter, Enveloping Multiple Obstacles with Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots, in Proc. of the International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Techniques and Applications, June 2005, Las Vegas, NV, pages 3097-3103 (acceptance rate 26%).
  
  J. Walter, M. Brooks^*, D. Little^*, and N. Amato, Enveloping Multi-Pocket Obstacles with Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots, in Proc. of the IEEE Intl. Conf. on Robotics and Automation, Apr. 2004, New Orleans, LA, pages 2204-2209 (acceptance rate 58.8%).
  
  J. Walter, M. Brooks^*, and N. Amato, Filling an Obstacle Pocket with Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots, in Proc. of the 8th Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems, 10-13 March 2004, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (invited paper for special session), pages 703-711.
  
  J. Walter and D. Little^*, Bridging Gaps in Traversal Surfaces with Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots, in Proc. of the American Nuclear Society 10th International Conference on Robotics and Remote Systems for Hazardous Environments, 28-31 March, 2004, Gainesville, FL, pages 438-444 (invited paper for special session).
  
  J. Walter, E. Tsai^*, and N. Amato, Enveloping Obstacles with Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots, in Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, May 2003, Taipei, Taiwan, pages 741-748 (acceptance rate 60.5%).
  
  J. Walter, E. Tsai^*, and N. Amato, Choosing Good Paths for Fast Distributed Reconfiguration of Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots, in Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, May 2002, Washington, DC, pages 102-109 (acceptance rate 59.8%).
  
  J. Walter, G. Cao, and M. Mohanty, A K-Mutual Exclusion Algorithm for Ad Hoc Wireless Networks (pdf format), in Proceedings of the first annual Workshop on Principles of Mobile Computing (POMC 2001), August 2001, pages 29-39 (acceptance rate 42%).
  
  J. Walter, J. Welch, and N. Amato, Distributed Reconfiguration of Metamorphic Robot Chains, in Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual ACM SIGACT-SIGOPS Symposium on Principles of Distributed Computing (PODC 2000), Portland, Oregon, 2000, pages 171-180 (acceptance rate 27%).
  
  J. Walter, J. Welch, and N. Amato, Distributed reconfiguration of hexagonal metamorphic robots in two dimensions, in Sensor Fusion and Decentralized Control in Robotic Systems III, Gerard T. McKee and Paul S. Schenker, eds., Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 4196, pages 441-453, 2000 (invited paper for special session).
  
  J. Walter, J. Welch, and N. Vaidya, A Mutual Exclusion Algorithm for Ad Hoc Mobile Networks, 1998 Dial M for Mobility workshop, Dallas TX, Oct. 1998, 15 pgs (acceptance rate 45%).
  
  J. Walter and J. L. Welch, Hazard-Free Connection Release, 1997 International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Techniques and Applications (PDPTA '97), Las Vegas, NV, July 1997, pp. 1668-1672. The original version of this paper is available in my Master's Thesis, Texas A&M University, 1997.
  
  
  * Technical Reports:
  
  D. Little and J. Walter, Using Hexagonal Metamorphic Robots to Form Temporary Bridges: Proof of Correctness, Texas A&M Parasol Robotics Laboratory Technical Report 05-001, 2005.
  
  J. Walter, A K-Mutual Exclusion Algorithm for Dynamic Networks, Texas A&M Technical Report 00-022, 31 pages, 2000.
  
  J. Walter and S. Kini, A Mutual Exclusion Algorithm for Ad Hoc Mobile Networks, Texas A&M Technical Report 97-014, 1997.
  
  —- Last Updated January 21st, 2021
  
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