Yesenia Velasco

Yesenia Velasco is a Lecturer of Computer Science at Duke University's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, where she has been teaching since 2023. She is affiliated with the Department of Computer Science and focuses on undergraduate education in computer science.

Dr. Velasco earned her Master of Science degree from Duke University in 2018. Her educational background forms the foundation for her expertise in computer science education and related technical fields.

Her research interests span multiple areas within computer science education and technical domains. With a strong focus on pedagogy and curriculum development, she investigates effective approaches to teaching introductory computer science courses (CS1/CS2). Her work also extends to technical areas including networking, autonomous vehicles, and Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication systems. Dr. Velasco's teaching philosophy emphasizes active learning, community building, and inclusive practices that cater to diverse student backgrounds and learning styles.

Dr. Velasco serves as Co-Principal Investigator on two significant National Science Foundation grants:

• "Characterizing and empowering student success when traversing the academic help landscape" (2024-2027)
• "Overcoming Barriers to Adoption of Peer Instruction in Undergraduate CS" (2024-2026)

These grants reflect her commitment to improving computer science education through evidence-based teaching practices and understanding student learning behaviors.

As an educator, Dr. Velasco has taught multiple courses including COMPSCI 94 (Programming and Problem Solving) and COMPSCI 101 (Introduction to Computer Science), while also assisting with advanced courses such as COMPSCI 310 (Operating Systems), COMPSCI/ECE 250 (Computer Architecture), and COMPSCI 316 (Databases). Her teaching evaluations consistently show strong student satisfaction, with approximately 75% of students receiving A grades and 90.3% course completion rates.