Mark Sherriff Earns Esteemed 2016 Computer Science & Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., 8 March 2016 — Associate Professor at the University of Virginia Mark Sherriff has been named recipient of the 2016 Computer Science and Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award. Sherriff was recognized by the IEEE Computer Society for "outstanding contributions to undergraduate computer science education through innovative teaching and commitment to increasing enrollment and diversity in computer science programs."

Sherriff’s teaching focus is in introductory computer science, computer game design, software engineering, and web and mobile app development.  A member of the IEEE Computer Society, his research interests are in CS education at all levels, gamification, and empiricism in CS education research. He was awarded the UVa All-University Teaching Award in 2014, the Hartfield-Jefferson Scholars Teaching Prize in 2010, and has been named UVa ACM Professor of the Year twice.

Sherriff's introductory programming course is one of the largest courses at UVa, with around 1000 students enrolled per year. Even with high enrollments, the course focuses on engaging the students whenever possible through active learning activities, including some gamified lessons like an encryption scavenger hunt to decode the day's lecture.

The Computer Science & Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to undergraduate education through both teaching and service. The award consists of a distinguished plaque, certificate and a $2,000 honorarium. The award will be presented at the IEEE Computer Society’s annual awards ceremony, to be held on 8 June 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.