CV Highlights
Click icon
to download a copy of my current complete CV.
Professional ​
info​​
I am currently an Associate Professor, Academic General Faculty, in Computer Science at the University of Virginia. The Academic General Faculty part means that I am teaching-track versus tenure-track. I received my PhD in Human Centered Computing at Georgia Tech, working under Mark Guzdial. I have been a college faculty member for 20 years; previously, I was a software engineer at IBM.
​
My research interests include determining when, if, and how educational psychology principles can be applied within computing, specifically to learning programming. I also work on broadening participation in computing efforts and preparing teachers to bring computing into their classrooms.
​
I was awarded UNO Alumni IS&T Teacher of the Year 2021.
Work​
experience​
University of Virginia
​August, 2021 - present
​Associate Professor, Computer Science Department
Director of the Computing Education Center. Instructor for classes up to 250 students, and part of teams for classes of over 800 students.
​
University of Nebraska Omaha
​August, 2016 - August, 2021
​Assistant Professor, Computer Science Department
Conducted user studies on learning gains from teachers and students using eBooks to learn programming. Developed assessments and end of chapters questions.
​
Georgia Institute of Technology
​August, 2011 - August, 2016
​Graduate Research Assistant
Conducted user studies on learning gains from teachers and students using eBooks to learn programming. Developed assessments and end of chapters questions.
Kennesaw State University
​January, 2015 - May, 2015
​Assistant Professor, Software Engineering and Computer Game Design and Development Department
Kennesaw State and Southern Polytechnic were officially merged in January of 2015. During the 2015-2016 academic year, I officially took a leave of absence to finish defending my dissertation.
Southern Polytechnic State University
​January, 1996 - December, 2014
​Assistant Professor, Computer Science Department
During this time I also served as the Secretary to the Senate, Computer Science and Software Engineering Undergraduate Coordinator, and lead on multiple ABET self-study teams.
IBM
​July, 1987 - December, 1994
​Staff Programmer
Product development through complete software lifecycle on a large scale manufacturing application. Lead educator for IBM internal developers for object-oriented programming and development tools. Final position was product support team lead.
Education
Georgia Institute of Technology
​August, 2016
PhD, Human Centered Computing
​Dissertation: Computer Science is Different: Applying Educational Psychology Principles to Learning Programming
Advisor: Mark Guzdial
Notable Awards: Foley Scholar Finalist (2015)
Southern Polytechnic State University
M.S., Computer Science
​June, 1995
​Project: Designing a Suite of Laboratory Experiences for an Introductory Course in Programming
Tulane University
B.S.E., cum laude, Computer Engineering
​May, 1987
​
​