On February 18, 2025, a new study co-authored by Rebecca Wright, Druckenmiller Professor and Chair of Computer Science and Faculty Director of the Vagelos Computational Science Center, alongside several Barnard affiliates, was published. Additional collaborators include Melissa Wright, Executive Director of Barnard’s Center for Engaged Pedagogy (CEP); Saima Akhtar, Senior Associate Director of the Vagelos Computational Science Center; Elizabeth Melville, a graduate student at Teachers College who works as a graduate assistant with the CEP; and Jennifer Rosales, former Barnard Vice President for Inclusion and Engaged Learning and Chief Diversity Officer.
The paper, “Improving Undergraduate Computing Engagement with Computing Fellows Across Disciplines,” explores the impact of near-peer computing mentors on students’ engagement with computing across disciplines and recently appeared in the Proceedings of the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE 2025). The study examines how Barnard’s Computing Fellows program helps foster computing identity among students, even in courses without coding prerequisites. Findings from the multi-year research project show that students who engaged with a computing fellow reported increased interest and confidence in computing.
This work, supported by the National Science Foundation, builds on the team’s prior research on the benefits of near-peer mentoring in computing education.