Ira Goldstein

Ira Goldstein serves as Associate Professor at Siena University (formerly Siena College), having progressed from Visiting Assistant Professor (2013-2016) to Assistant Professor (2016-2020) before his current appointment. His academic foundation includes a Ph.D. and MBA from the University at Albany, complemented by post-doctoral work at MIT CSAIL and University at Albany.

His educational background features:

• Ph.D. from SUNY at Albany
• Master of Business Administration from University at Albany

Goldstein's research bridges computer science education and medical informatics. He pioneers problem-based learning techniques for introductory CS courses, emphasizing real-world command-line applications and student engagement. His medical informatics work applies natural language processing to clinical text analysis, including smoking status identification and obesity prediction. Recent scholarship integrates mindfulness practices into emotional intelligence education for online and in-person learning environments, reflecting his commitment to holistic student development.

Publication trends reveal sustained focus on CS pedagogy (70% of recent works) with medical NLP as a secondary thread. His educational research consistently addresses practical implementation challenges, while medical studies demonstrate methodological rigor in clinical text mining. Both strands share emphasis on real-world applicability, mirroring his teaching philosophy of connecting theory to practice.

Key recognitions include:

• Upsilon Pi Epsilon Computer Science Honor Society (2017)
• SAANYS Leadership and Support Award (2007)
• Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society (2004)

Goldstein mentors students through course-based projects and develops high school CS teacher programs via university-school partnerships. His grant activity focuses on educational outreach initiatives, particularly the model for connecting colleges with local high schools. He actively contributes to conferences like SIGCSE and AMIA, translating research into practical teaching frameworks.

As an engaged community member, he participates in Siena's academic ecosystem through committee work and innovative course development, maintaining his philosophy that learning requires active application beyond passive knowledge reception.