Dr. Sean Mackay, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Computer Science
Gallogly College of Engineering
The University of Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
ORCID: 0000-0002-0358-7594
snmackay at ou dot edu
Google ScholarResearch Areas
Computing Education Research
Second and Third Year Student Issues
Human-Computer Interaction, User-Focused Design
Programming Languages
Open-Source Software Development
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
2020 - 2025
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
2016 - 2020
Bachelors of Science in Computer Science
3.7 GPA, Magna Cum Laude
Teaching
| School | Term | Course Code | Course Name | Number of Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Oklahoma | FA26 | CS 1323 | Intro to Programming in Java -3 Credit | TBD |
| University of Oklahoma | FA26 | CS 3323 | Principles of Programming Languages | TBD |
| University of Oklahoma | FA26 | CS 3823 | Theory of Computation | TBD |
| University of Oklahoma | SP26 | CS 1321 | Intro to Programming in Java -1 Credit | 8 |
| University of Oklahoma | SP26 | CS 1323 | Intro to Programming in Java -3 Credit | 49 |
| University of Oklahoma | SP26 | CS 3323 | Principle of Programming Languages | 81 |
| University of Oklahoma | FA25 | CS 1321 | Intro to Programming in Java -1 Credit | 17 |
| University of Oklahoma | FA25 | CS 1323 | Intro to Programming in Java -3 Credit | 33 |
| University of Oklahoma | FA25 | CS 3323 | Principle of Programming Languages | 63 |
| University at Buffalo | SU25 | CSE 115 | Intro to Computer Science 1 | 34 |
| University at Buffalo | FA24 | CSE 115 | Intro to Computer Science 1 | 81 |
| University at Buffalo | SU24 | CSE 115 | Intro to Computer Science 1 | 43 |
| University at Buffalo | SU23 | CSE 115 | Intro to Computer Science 1 | 59 |
| University at Buffalo | SU22 | CSE 115 | Intro to Computer Science 1 | 45 |
| University at Buffalo | SU21 | CSE 115 | Intro to Computer Science 1 | 28 |
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 Community Outreach 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
2021-2024
The University at Buffalo SEAS Graduate Handbook Development Committee Member
2024
Grants
Spencer Grant Initial Submission
Potential Funding: $400,000
PI: Dr. Ze Shi Li
Co-PI: Dr. Sean Mackay
Status: Under Review
Submitted: November, 2025
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: Under Review
Submitted: January, 2026
Publications
FIE 2024
Using Chat-GPT to Create Multiple Choice CS ExamsType: Accepted Work-In-Progress Paper
Authors: Karol Lejmbach, Sean Mackay
FIE 2024
Two Sides of the Same Coin: Differing Approaches to Generative AI in Two Computer Science ClassroomsType: Accepted Full Paper
Authors: Sean Mackay, Kurt Eiselt, Adrienne Decker
FIE 2024
Interview Iterations and Improvements for Identifying Intermediate Computer Science Threshold ConceptsType: Accepted Work-In-Progress Paper
Authors: Sean Mackay, Brian McSkimming, Adrienne Decker
ICER 2023
Investigating Troublesome Knowledge in Middle-Year Computer Science Courses to Support RetentionType: Doctoral Consortium Publication
Authors: Sean Mackay, Adrienne Decker
FIE 2023
Identification of Threshold Concepts for Intermediate Computer Science StudentsType: Work In Progress Paper
Authors: Brian McSkimming, Sean Mackay, Adrienne Decker
SIGCSE 2022
What Does Literature Tell Us About Recursion?Type: ACM Student Research Competition Poster
Authors: Sean Mackay
FIE 2022
Investigating the Connection Between Sense of Belonging and Academic DishonestyType: Conference Work in Progress Paper
Authors: Sean Mackay, Jessica Swenson
FIE 2021
Investigating the usage of Likert-style items within Computer Science Education Research InstrumentsType: Conference Paper
Authors: Brian McSkimming, Sean Mackay, Adrienne Decker
FIE 2020
Updating our Understanding of the Impact of Pre-College Computing Experiences on University StudentsType: Conference Paper
Authors: 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