About
Ryan McFall is a Professor of Computer Science at Hope College, where he has served as department chair since 2012. He actively contributes to curriculum development and focuses on user interface/user interaction design research. McFall collaborates on projects like SALT, an online teaching evaluation system, and integrates industry practices from his work at Open Systems Technologies (OST) into his courses.
- Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science from Michigan State University (2000, 1995); B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics from Hope College (1993).
McFall's expertise spans educational technology and software engineering. His early work on collaborative electronic textbooks and Microsoft Tablet PC innovations influenced commercial products like Amazon Kindle. He bridges academic and industry practices through curriculum development and partnerships with OST.
His recent publications emphasize computing education, curriculum design, and interactive learning tools. McFall has received grants from NSF and Hewlett Packard, along with internal awards like the Simon denUyl Fellowship and Provost’s Award. He mentors students in software projects and advocates for practical, collaborative learning approaches.
- Scientific Awards:
- Provost’s Award for Service to the Academic Program (2010)
- Hewlett Packard Technology for Teaching Grant ($69,613, 2004)
- Simon denUyl Fellowship (2004)
- NSF Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Grant ($84,947, 2002)
McFall is a third-generation Hope College student and descendant of Isaac Fairbanks, an early settler of Holland, MI. Outside academia, he is actively involved in tennis and church volunteer work, serving as a classroom leader and KidsHope USA mentor.
