Rate My Professor Carl Alphonce

Carl Alphonce serves as Professor of Teaching in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University at Buffalo's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of British Columbia, obtained in 2000. His academic career at the University at Buffalo encompasses extensive teaching and service contributions, with a dedicated focus on computer science education. Alphonce's research interests lie in expanding pedagogical approaches to teaching computing across all levels, from K-12 to university curricula, alongside outreach initiatives designed to promote computing majors and careers among prospective students.

In his teaching role, Alphonce delivers key undergraduate courses including CSE 115: Introduction to Computer Science I (taught in Fall 2023, 2022, 2021), CSE 220: Systems Programming (multiple semesters including Spring 2026, Fall 2025, and others through Fall 2022), CSE 306: Software Quality in Practice (Fall 2025, 2024, Spring 2024, 2023, 2022), CSE 443: Compilers (Spring 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022), and CSE 503: Computer Science for Non Majors (Fall 2021). His excellence in education is recognized through several departmental and school awards: SEAS Best Teaching Faculty of the Year in 2015, CSE Senior Faculty Teacher of the Year in 2022, and CSE Outstanding Service awards in 2021, 2018, and 2017. Alphonce has chaired the CSE Alumni and Community Outreach Committee and contributed to various departmental efforts, including ethical computing policies and values promotion. His scholarly work includes publications such as 'Benefits of using socially-relevant projects in computer science and engineering education' (2004, co-authored with M. Buckley et al.), 'Worked examples for sound object-oriented pedagogy' (2008, with M.E. Caspersen), and 'Who is Failing CS1?: Early Results from DFW Rate Analyses' (2022, with M. Hertz et al.), reflecting his impact on computing education pedagogy.