UNC Computer Science: How Dedicated Faculty Are Personalizing Education at Scale
Despite serving over 9,000 students annually, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Computer Science department has cultivated a remarkably personal learning habitat, driven by a growing team of 10 dedicated teaching faculty. These educators are focused on fostering a culture where students are not simply instructed, but truly seen and supported throughout their academic journey.
Prairie Rose Goodwin’s journey exemplifies the shift in priorities within the department. After five years in software development at SAS, where she experienced the fleeting nature of some projects, she sought a role with lasting impact. “I felt that much of my work didn’t matter and wouldn’t last more than a year,” Goodwin explained. “As a professor, I know that the work that I put into every lecture will pay dividends for decades as the students go out into the world in their own careers.”
Since 2019, the number of teaching faculty at UNC Computer science has more than doubled, growing from four positions to ten. This expansion represents a intentional investment in educators whose primary focus is classroom instruction. This allows for concentrated attention on foundational coursework, freeing research faculty to continue pushing the boundaries of the field.The core team includes Sayeed Ghani, Isabella “Izzi” Hinks, Kris Jordan, Tessa Joseph‑nicholas, Alyssa Lytle, Connor “CeCe” McMahon, Brent Munsell, Kaki Ryan, and Kevin Sun.
The department’s commitment to teaching is essential given the sheer scale of its mission. Beyond its 1,700+ undergraduate majors and pre-majors, UNC Computer Science provides crucial coursework for students in facts science, applied mathematics, statistics, and data science programs across the university.These teaching faculty members are the bedrock of this expansive educational effort, launching the careers of countless “tar Heels.”
Different Paths, Shared Purpose
The ten teaching faculty members arrive at UNC with diverse backgrounds and experiences. tessa Joseph-Nicholas, the longest-serving member of the team, leverages her doctorate in American literature to challenge students to critically examine the societal implications of technology thru courses on digital media ethics. Sayeed Ghani brings over a decade of industry experience from the Institute of Business Management in Karachi to his academic work.Connor “CeCe” McMahon arrived from the University of California, Berkeley, recognized with an Outstanding Graduate Student
Award. Alyssa Lytle, a former high school teacher, brings a passion for inclusive pedagogy to introductory courses. Kaki Ryan, who earned her doctorate at Carnegie Mellon University, focuses on making complex concepts accessible to all learners. Brent Munsell, with a background in game development, infuses his courses with engaging, hands-on projects. Kris Jordan, a UNC computer Science alumnus, returned to Chapel Hill after working in industry to share his practical experience.
This dedication to teaching translates into exceptional student support. Isabella Hinks offers over 40 hours of weekly office hours in COMP 110, drawing on her own experiences as a former undergraduate TA.Students consistently praise the teaching faculty as caring, engaging, and invested in their success, with many describing them as “the best in the department” in course evaluations and on platforms like Rate My Professors.Caitlin Estrada,a student pursuing degrees in both computer science and business,credits COMP 110 with sparking her passion for the field. “The difference in energy, effort, and passion was immediately apparent,” she said. “As a student in two schools, I can confidently say UNC Computer Science is something truly special, and that’s because of the teaching faculty.”
Kevin Sun, who teaches algorithms and discrete structures, emphasizes the importance of critical thinking. “I hope students remember that when we’re faced with a problem, every solution has benefits and drawbacks,” Sun explained. “Deciding on the ‘best’ solution typically involves considering a variety of tradeoffs.”
After graduation, 20 percent of computer science majors pursue graduate studies, while 80 percent enter careers in computer science and related fields. However,the teaching faculty’s impact extends beyond career statistics. They lay the essential foundation for all computer science students, and for students across the university who require computer science coursework. this dual focus on undergraduate teaching and research excellence is a hallmark of the department’s success.
According to Ketan Mayer-Patel, the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies, the success of the teaching faculty is no accident. “what the teaching faculty have built here is pretty remarkable. Students get faculty who chose this work because they love it-and you can feel that in the classroom, in office hours, in everything they do.”
