Katie Cunningham

Katie Cunningham is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, part of the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her work focuses on using Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) methods to align computer science education with students' goals and identities, aiming to broaden participation in computing at the college level.

Education:

• Ph.D., Information, School of Information, University of Michigan (2020)
• M.S., Human-Centered Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology (2018)
• B.S., Computer Science and Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona (2013)

Research Interests include computer science education, programming pedagogy, and leveraging HCI principles to improve learning outcomes. Her work emphasizes domain-specific programming plans, conversational programming approaches, and educational technologies.

Her recent articles explore topics like PLAID systems for programming plan identification, split deadlines in CS1 courses, and learning curve analysis in programming education. These studies highlight innovative methods to enhance both technical and non-technical student success.

Awards include the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2017–2020) and the Computing Innovation Fellowship (2021–2022).

Teaching includes courses like CS 105 (Intro Computing: Non-Tech) and advanced topics in computer science education research. She actively contributes to broadening participation initiatives, reflecting her commitment to inclusive computing education.

Her lab focuses on developing tools and frameworks for scalable, evidence-based educational interventions. Current projects aim to improve novice programming outcomes through purpose-first approaches and adaptive feedback systems.