Jessica Young Schmidt

Jessica Young Schmidt is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Computer Science at North Carolina State University, serving as ABET Coordinator since 2017 and Course Coordinator for CSC226: Discrete Mathematics. Her primary focus is undergraduate education, particularly CSC116: Introduction to Computing – Java and CSC226, where she implements flipped classroom models and comprehensive end-of-semester exercises.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, North Carolina State University, 2012
• M.S. in Computer Science, North Carolina State University, 2009
• B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics, Roanoke College, 2007

Dr. Schmidt's research centers on computer science education, emphasizing active learning, instructional design, and software engineering pedagogy. She has pioneered methods like collaborative software engineering exercises for CS1 materials and frameworks for assessing critical thinking, with her work on end-of-semester integration earning a SIGCSE 2020 award. Her publications reveal an evolution from privacy policy analysis (2009-2012) toward educational innovation in recent years.

Her scholarly contributions demonstrate consistent focus on curriculum development and assessment, particularly in integrating software testing throughout computer science education and enhancing student comprehension through structured reflection.

She has received the following recognition:

• Third Best Paper, SIGCSE 2020 Technical Symposium (Experience Reports and Tools Track)

As ABET Coordinator, Dr. Schmidt drives curriculum assessment and continuous improvement, while her CSC226 coordination ensures pedagogical consistency across sections. Her teaching innovations directly support student success in foundational computer science concepts.