Kathryn Irene Cunningham

Kathryn Irene Cunningham serves as an Assistant Professor at the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she researches critical challenges in computer science education. Her work bridges pedagogical innovation with accessibility, focusing on improving outcomes for underrepresented student populations.

Her research spans:

• Programming education methodologies and code analysis techniques
• Accessibility frameworks for students with disabilities in computing
• Curriculum design for introductory CS courses (CS1)
• Assessment strategies for non-computer science majors
• Student retention and major-switching dynamics

Recent publications analyze large language models for detecting programming plans, major-switching patterns among disabled students, and split-deadline implementations to reduce wait times in large courses. Her work consistently addresses systemic barriers in computing education while promoting upward mobility through evidence-based teaching practices.

Contact: katcun@illinois.edu