Wired for Success

Jovanovic’s Work in Software Engineering could ‘Influence Everything’

In the 1960s, life in Yugoslavia as Vladan Jovanovic knew it was very simple.

“My childhood memories are happy – the people were friendly and the streets were safe for children. Growing up, we were free of most material possessions (including TV, refrigerator, car, washing machine, etc.) that left more time for playing outdoors with other children, and for me, reading whole libraries literally,” said the College of Information Technology (CIT) professor. “It was obvious for school children that self-reliance is the only way to make any progress.”

These learning experiences led to Jovanovic’s career progression in the field of software engineering, proving that the common thread of technology can successfully connect across continents.

Jovanovic’s interest in the field of software engineering was piqued after studying the accomplishments of his role model Nikola Tesla, a remarkable inventor and mechanical and electrical engineer who was an important contributor to understanding electricity.

“I wanted to study software design based upon the intellectual challenges of a field with a potential to substantially influence everything,” he said, “and Nikola was a hardworking, interesting individual who left a big footprint.”

Through the years, Jovanovic has left his own footprint in the world of technology, earning a doctoral degree in software engineering in 1982 from the University of Belgrade. He also worked as a professor at the university, while simultaneously developing information systems for government, industry and chambers of commerce in his country. While Jovanovic’s professional career was taking off, political unrest was mounting between the Yugoslav republics after the death of President Josip Broz Tito in 1980, causing the country to fall into a series of civil wars.

“I was not involved in the politics of my country, but in building. The country was broken on so many different levels and it was about to be destroyed,” he said, talking about his decision to immigrate to the United States in 1989. “At the time, Yugoslavia was a federal republic – nationalist and separatist forces were ruining the peace in the country and I was in the minority as a federalist. I felt that the United States was a place where I could pursue my work in databases and software, because it offered the highest standards in my profession,” he revealed.

Jovanovic moved to Michigan and accepted a position with the University of Detroit, where he designed a master’s degree program in software management in 1993 and helped transfer a product design for 21st Century Master Program – supported by Ford Motor Company – which is modeled after the training he received at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During this 12-year period, he also taught software engineering to engineers employed by General Dynamics and also improved software testing and design process for the U.S. Army.

After these professional successes, Jovanovic received an offer to join the CIT faculty at Georgia Southern more than a decade ago, considering this opportunity as a way to contribute even more to his profession. Last fall, the online Master of Science in Computer Science degree was launched, largely due in part to Jovanovic’s concept for the program and the initial proposals that he submitted in November 2001. “These proposals defined the curriculum and advocated the viability of the degree before it was approved,” he said, acknowledging that the degree program was a joint collaboration between many of his fellow colleagues.

Since introducing the master’s degree, Jovanovic’s focus has remained the same: striving to make advancements in the field and providing appropriate direction to his students. “I don’t work for honors and awards. I work to make accomplishments in the field,” said the visionary. To that end, he is actively working on an international research program involving students and faculty from U.S. and European universities. “Mainly, my accomplishments are in advancing the state of the art and practice in the profession: standardization of systems development, design and design validation techniques and reference models,” he said. Jovanovic has published Engineering a Better Software Organization, which is listed among the top 50 software process books and is now in its third edition.

His research areas include database and data warehouse design, software design, architecture, standards, process, measurement, testing, management and software engineering education. Over the years, Jovanovic has taught courses including introduction to programming, database design, software testing and data warehouse design.

While the professor still has relatives living in Yugoslavia, he doesn’t regret his decision to pursue technology and new opportunities in the United States. “It’s a slower pace here – different, but good,” he said, about his life in south Georgia. “Georgia Southern is moving forward in the right direction, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”