Julie Jarzemsky

Julie Jarzemsky is a designer, coder, and teacher. She started her career as a software engineer, doing full-stack web development for HomeAway in Austin, Texas, after completing her Bachelor’s in Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Julie started her teaching career at an alternative high school’s vocational training program in Austin, Texas, teaching IT and Media skills. This led to her pursuing her Master’s in Computer Science at University of Colorado Boulder, where she conducted research on integrating ethics into programming assignments, writing integrated projects and gathering feedback in student focus groups. On the design side, Julie worked on yearbook, a student-run music magazine at UW and currently enjoys linoleum block printing in her free time. Julie is passionate about creating inclusive classroom environments in CS and integrating her various interests, including art, into computing curriculum.

How did you discover Western?

I was part of a graduate peer mentor program at CU and my mentee informed me of the CU/Western partnership program! I had visited Crested Butte before and loved the valley area, so I decided to apply for this position with the partnership.

What are some of the highlights of your career?

Making wonderful friends and colleagues during my first software engineering job for HomeAway/Expedia, whom I still consult with today. Volunteering with ChickTech, a hands-on CS education program for high school girls in Austin, Texas, and creating and instructing a React workshop for their adult conference. The pride I felt when the first group of students I taught at American YouthWorks graduated. Writing and publishing a paper on integrating ethics into programming assignments for the Association of Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group in CS Technical Symposium and visiting Toronto to present it in March 2023.

What most excites you about your field?

I love interdisciplinary projects and computing can intersect with just about anything. I am excited to bring real-world projects into my courses and explore the overlap of CS with art and design.

What is your favorite thing about the Gunnison Valley?

Incredible access to the outdoors and tight-knit, supportive community.

Courses Taught

• Algorithms,
• Object-Oriented Analysis & Design,
• IT and Media vocational skills training,
• Human-Computer Interaction,
• Introduction to Computational Thinking,
• Software Engineering Projects

Publications

• J. Jarzemsky, J. Paup & C. Fiesler. (Accepted) “‘This Applies to the Real World’: Student Perspectives on Integrating Ethics into a Computer Science Assignment” in ACM SIG Computer Science Education Technical Symposium 2023

External Professional Affiliations

• University of Colorado Boulder
• Internet Rules Lab
• Bohemian Innovations
• American YouthWorks YouthBuild Program
• ChickTech
• data.world
• HomeAway