Kathryn “Katie” Cunningham studies the way novices learn to program, and invents new methods for teaching computing.

Using human-centered computing methods in the context of computer science education, her research improves learners’ motivation and cognition while learning programming, with a long-term goal of broadening pathways to computing education.

Dr. Cunningham’s current focus is on understanding and supporting novice learners with diverse goals, and developing new software-supported scaffolding that allows learners to focus on code’s purpose.

Education

University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI

Ph.D. in Information | December 2020

Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA

M.S. in Computer Science (HCC) | August 2018

University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ

B.S. in Computer Science | May 2013

Experience

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Assistant Prof | July 2022 - Present

Northwestern University | Postdoc | January 2021 - July 2022

TERC | Independent Contractor - Research | May 2017 - August 2017

Cal State Monterey Bay | CS Ed Coordinator | July 2013 - June 2016

Kathryn Cunningham


Kathryn “Katie” Cunningham studies the way novices learn to program, and invents new methods for teaching computing.

Using human-centered computing methods in the context of computer science education, her research improves learners’ motivation and cognition while learning programming, with a long-term goal of broadening pathways to computing education.

Dr. Cunningham’s current focus is on understanding and supporting novice learners with diverse goals, and developing new software-supported scaffolding that allows learners to focus on code’s purpose.

Education

University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI

Ph.D. in Information | December 2020

Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA

M.S. in Computer Science (HCC) | August 2018

University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ

B.S. in Computer Science | May 2013

Experience

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Assistant Prof | July 2022 - Present

Northwestern University | Postdoc | January 2021 - July 2022

TERC | Independent Contractor - Research | May 2017 - August 2017

Cal State Monterey Bay | CS Ed Coordinator | July 2013 - June 2016