CV & Resume

Research Interests

Software development live streaming, software communities, developer habits, online learning, informal learning

Education

Ph.D Student in Computer Science January 2021 - May 2025

Clemson University, Clemson, SC & Clemson University Zucker Graduate Education Center, North Charleston, SC – Human Factors in Software Engineering Lab
Dissertation topic: Informal Learning in STEM education, focusing on motivation and education within live streaming software and game developer communities

Master of Science in Computer Science May 2022

Clemson University Zucker Graduate Education Center, North Charleston, SC

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science May 2017

Clemson University, Clemson, SC

Research Experience

Educating Autistic Software Engineer (EdASE) Videogame Game Coding Camp 2021-2025 Instructor/Researcher - 2021-2025

Analyzed existing research on software development learning outcomes to develop core learning objectives for camp curriculum.
Created and maintained software development curriculum, student materials, and instructor documentation for use over multiple years of camp, including instructor’s knowledge base of tools, processes, and procedures.
Developed and implemented architecture to measure student software development proficiency baseline at the start of camp, and post-camp growth in support of research goals.
Facilitated post-camp student feedback surveys, self-assessments, lessons learned meetings, and leadership retrospectives to improve curriculum, tools, processes, and instructional methodology for future camps.
Communicated written and verbal reports on camp progression, student outcomes, and research to university leadership and federal funding sponsors.
Publication 2023 Informal Learning Opportunities - Neurodiversity, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation for Programming Interest
Led a team of 3 campers developing their own game - facilitating discussion, feature creation, code and art feedback

Instructor + Researcher 2024-2025

Designed course objectives, curriculum, and research questions for undergraduate computer science students
Scheduled and hosted regular classes for students to expand general and technical knowledge based on course objectives.
Documented course outcomes, including unforeseen events throughout the course, as part of research artifacts. Applied lessons learned from analysis to drive continuous course improvement.

Graduate Research Assistant 2021-2025

Published research in two journals and four peer-reviewed conferences, and poster presentations
Conducted literature reviews and collected qualitative data for human subjects research

Professional Service

Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic (Formerly SPAWAR), June 2015 – 2020 Scientist

Authored and maintained detailed onboarding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to assist in integrating new hires into the DC2HS mission, including Cybersecurity Service Provider (CCSP) activities.
Established technical training materials for cybersecurity compliance based on NIST SP 800-53 security controls, DOD Risk Management Framework (RMF) process, and the DON specific implementation, including the program’s Incident Response Procedures.
Onboarded and oversaw multiple DC2HS customer stakeholders and systems through RMF Assessment and Authorization (A&A) workflows to ensure security, technical, and administrative compliance post-migration into an AWS cloud-based environment.
Managed cybersecurity assessment activities on ad-hoc, multidisciplinary project teams consisting of internal DC2HS personnel and stakeholders for the systems being migrated into AWS.
Participated in Contingency Plan tabletop exercises as a part of the RMF annual security review process.

Clemson University CECAS IT Help Desk June 2015 – 2017 Information Technology Desk Technician

Solved customer trouble reports with personal & university-owned information technology systems and documented user issues for support tickets
Communicated complex technical concepts to users with varying levels of technical knowledge

University Service

Charleston Graduate Student Association (CGSA) 2023-2025

Co-founding member and president of a graduate student-led organization for social and professional development

CECAS ASPIRE Gradute Peer Mentor 2023-2025

Guiding new graduate students in their first year of school in areas of research, networking, and work/life balance

CECAS Graduate Student Advisory Board 2022-2025

School of Computing Representative for Charleston Campus
Executive Board - Vice President 2022-2024

Tour Guide and Ambassador 2017-2025 Zucker Family Graduate Center, Clemson University 2019-2025

Campus ambassador for interested students in attending graduate school at the Charleston Zucker Family Graduate Center in Charleston, SC School of Computing, Clemson University 2017
Tour guide for the School of Computing for interested/newly accepted students to inform them about the computer science program and walk them around the facility

Service and Volunteering

ICSE 2021 Student Volunteer

SV for CloudIntelligence at ICSE 2021

Conference Paper/Journal Reviews

ASEE 2024, 2025
SIGCSE TS 2024
HICCS 2024
CSCW 2022

Subcommittee Paper/Journal Reviews

ACM ESEC/FSE 2021
ICPC 2021

Invited Conferences and Conventions

Women in Industry Day - 2022, 2023

nominated by faculty and represented Clemson University

Awards and Honors

Churchill A. Carter ‘52 Endowed Memorial Fellowship - 2023 - 2024

Zucker Graduate Education Center PhD Grant - 2023

Upsilon Pi Epsilon Induction 2020

Ella Kokinda