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About Me

I am an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Oklahoma in the Gallogly College of Engineering.

My research covers a broad range of student issues across computing education, as well as across other disciplines. Some of my ongoing research involves first-year student issues, integrating AI technology in non-CS educational contexts, and studying populations of students as they progress through undergraduate CS. My other research interests going forward involve the use of generative AI models in providing scalable supports for students learning computer science concepts.

Education

University at Buffalo

PhD, Engineering Education

Title: Identifying and Supporting Hurdles in the Upper-Division Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum

Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Adrienne Decker

Committee Members: Dr. Corey Schimpf, Dr. Jessica Swenson

4.0 GPA

University at Buffalo

Bachelors of Science in Computer Science

3.7 GPA, Magna Cum Laude

Teaching

School Term Course Code Course Name Students
University of OklahomaSP26CS 1323Intro to Programming in Java - 3 CreditTBD
University of OklahomaSP26CS 3323Principles of Programming LanguagesTBD
University of OklahomaSP26CS 3823Theory of ComputationTBD
University of OklahomaFA26CS 1323Intro to Programming in Java - 3 Credit31
University of OklahomaFA26CS 3323Principles of Programming Languages44
University of OklahomaFA26CS 3823Theory of Computation100
University of OklahomaSP26CS 1321Intro to Programming in Java - 1 Credit8
University of OklahomaSP26CS 1323Intro to Programming in Java - 3 Credit49
University of OklahomaSP26CS 3323Principle of Programming Languages81
University of OklahomaFA25CS 1321Intro to Programming in Java - 1 Credit17
University of OklahomaFA25CS 1323Intro to Programming in Java - 3 Credit33
University of OklahomaFA25CS 3323Principle of Programming Languages63
University at BuffaloSU25CSE 115Intro to Computer Science 134
University at BuffaloFA24CSE 115Intro to Computer Science 181
University at BuffaloSU24CSE 115Intro to Computer Science 143
University at BuffaloSU23CSE 115Intro to Computer Science 159
University at BuffaloSU22CSE 115Intro to Computer Science 145
University at BuffaloSU21CSE 115Intro to Computer Science 128

Service Work

Faculty Advisor, Game Developers Association

Primary faculty advisor for the Game Developers Association registered student organisation in OU Computer Science.

August 2025-Present

Faculty Co-Advisor, Hacklahoma

Faculty co-advisor for Hacklahoma, the University of Oklahoma's MLH hackathon.

August 2025-Present

Faculty Co-Advisor, Interview Preparation Club

Faculty co-advisor for the OU CS Interview Preparation Club.

August 2025-Present

OU CS Undergraduate Studies Committee Member

August 2025-Present

OU CS ABET Committee Member

August 2025-Present

OU CS Undergraduate Honours Student Coordinator

August 2025-Present

Reviewer, ACM SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

2020-Present

Reviewer, IEEE FIE (Frontiers in Education) Conference

2021-Present

OU CS Community Outreach Committee Member

August 2025-August 2026

OU School of Computer Science AI Summer Camp Faculty Co-Lead

Summer 2026

The University at Buffalo SEAS Graduate Handbook Development Committee Member

2024

Grants

WINAI Challenge Gates Foundation Grant
Potential Funding:
$5,000,000
Funding to Dr. Mackay:
~$350,000
OU Norman PI:
Dr. Ze Shi Li
OU Norman Co-PI:
Dr. Sean Mackay
Status:
Finalist, Not Funded
Submitted:
January, 2026
Spencer Grant Initial Submission
Potential Funding:
$400,000
PI:
Dr. Ze Shi Li
Co-PI:
Dr. Sean Mackay
Status:
Final Round, Not Funded
Submitted:
November, 2025

Publications

FIE 2026
A Beginner's API: Revising the Java API to Support Introductory Programming Students
Accepted Work-In-Progress Paper
Ethan Gulley, Sean Mackay, Deborah Trytten
FIE 2024
Using Chat-GPT to Create Multiple Choice CS Exams
Work-In-Progress Paper
Karol Lejmbach, Sean Mackay
FIE 2024
Interview Iterations and Improvements for Identifying Intermediate Computer Science Threshold Concepts
Work-In-Progress Paper
Sean Mackay, Brian McSkimming, Adrienne Decker
SIGCSE 2024
Computer Science Curriculum Trends
Poster
Sean Mackay, Adrienne Decker
ICER 2023
Investigating Troublesome Knowledge in Middle-Year Computer Science Courses to Support Retention
Doctoral Consortium Publication
Sean Mackay, Adrienne Decker
FIE 2023
Identification of Threshold Concepts for Intermediate Computer Science Students
Work In Progress Paper
Brian McSkimming, Sean Mackay, Adrienne Decker
SIGCSE 2022
What Does Literature Tell Us About Recursion?
ACM Student Research Competition Poster
Sean Mackay
FIE 2022
Investigating the Connection Between Sense of Belonging and Academic Dishonesty
Conference Work in Progress Paper
Sean Mackay, Jessica Swenson
FIE 2021
Investigating the usage of Likert-style items within Computer Science Education Research Instruments
Conference Paper
Brian McSkimming, Sean Mackay, Adrienne Decker

Conferences Attended

SIGCSE TS 2026
St Louis, MO
Computing Research Association (CRA) Summit
San Francisco, CA
SIGCSE TS 2025
Pittsburgh, PA
FIE 2024
Washington, DC
SIGCSE TS 2024
Portland, Oregon
ICER 2023
Chicago, Illinois
SIGCSE TS 2023
Toronto, Canada
SIGCSE TS 2022
Providence, Rhode Island
SIGCSE TS 2020
Portland, Oregon
ICER 2019
Toronto, Canada

Work Experience

Assistant Professor / The University of Oklahoma
August 2025 - Current
Assistant Professor in the School of Computer Science in the Gallogly College of Engineering.
Summer Adjunct Professor / University at Buffalo
June 2021 - August 2025
Summer adjunct professor for Intro to Computer Science 1 (CSE 115).
CSE 115 Instructor / University at Buffalo
August 2024 - December 2024
Serving as one of the faculty members for CSE 115 for Fall 2024.
Graduate Research Assistant / University at Buffalo
June 2020 - July 2025
Research Assistant for Dr. Adrienne Decker on several projects including my dissertation.
Software Development & IT Consultant
May 2015 - June 2025
Working with clients on managing their technology infrastructure and in-house software requirements.
Graduate Teaching Assistant / University at Buffalo
August 2020 - December 2020
Graduate teaching assistant in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences for EAS 230 (introduction to Matlab.)
Undergraduate Research Assistant / University at Buffalo
May 2018 - June 2020
Research Assistant in the Computer Science department with Dr. Sridhar from June 2018 - December 2018
Research Assistant with Dr. Adrienne Decker from June 2019 - June 2020
Undergraduate Teaching Assistant / University at Buffalo
Feb 2018 - July 2020
Teaching assistant for a wide array of computer science courses.
  • CSE 113: Introduction to Programming For Nonmajors
  • CSE 115: Introduction to Computer Science 1
  • CSE 250: Data Structures
  • CSE 331: Algorithms Design and Analysis
  • CSE 442: Software Engineering
  • CSE 305: Programming Languages