Margaret Ellis Computer Science Virginia Tech

Margaret Ellis Computer Science, Virginia Tech

Margaret currently serves as an Associate Professor of Practice and is focused on instructing and designing curriculum for CS2104 Problem Solving in Computer Science and CS2114 Software Design and Data Structures. She received her BS in Mathematics, then her MS in Computer Science, both from Virginia Tech. Margaret taught Secondary Math and Computer Science in Maryland and Virginia and has industry experience as a System Engineer, Consultant, Trainer, Project Manager, and Developer. She also created her own software business which involved designing and developing educational apps for individuals with special needs, as well as customizing and launching the use of hand held devices within many school systems. Margaret began teaching at Virginia Tech in 2013 and enjoys integrating her various professional experiences within her courses to provide students with real world perspectives and training in contemporary topics and skills for both research and industry. She is interested in Computer Science Education and approaches to support individuals from underrepresented groups in computing. As the recipient of the 2024 IEEE Mary Kenneth Keller Computer Science and Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award, Margaret's contributions are highlighted by the IEEE Computer Society Tech News, an IEEE Award Video, and the Virginia Tech News.

SIGCSE24 & SIGCSE25 Organizing Committee Evaluations Co-Chair
SC23 35th Anniversary Committee
Securitas Learning Living Program Steering Committee and Faculty Affiliate
Hokie Talk
College of Engineering and Computer Science Diversity Committees
TLOS Digital Assessment Community of Practice
Computer Science Undergraduate Program Committee
Outreach Involvement:
- VT IT: Hidden Figures Day, VT Science Festival
- AWC: Women in Computing Day
- Various CEED Activities

Jones, B. D., Zhu, X., Ellis, M., Ambarkutuk, Z., & Fenerci, H. (in press, 12/18/24). Connections between students’ perceptions of the motivational climate in a course and their motivational beliefs and academic and career goals. European Journal of Engineering Education.
Tyler Buxton, Margaret Ellis, and Sara Hooshangi. 2024. Tracking Undergraduate Students’ Perception of Early Exposure to Practical Computing Skills Over Time. 2024 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) Proceedings, Washington, D.C.
Ellis, Margaret; Jones, Brett D.; Gu, Fei; and Fenerci, Hande (2024) "Designing an Effective Motivational Climate: Effects on Students’ Effort and Achievement," International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning: Vol. 18: No. 1, Article 9.
Wang, Y., Furman, S., Hardy, N., Ellis, M., Back, G., Hong, Y., & Cameron, K. (2024). A Detailed Historical and Statistical Analysis of the Influence of Hardware Artifacts on SPEC Integer Benchmark Performance. IEEE Transactions on Computers, 73(5). https://doi.org/10.1109/TC.2024.3365941
Jones, B. D., Ellis, M., Gu, F., & Fenerci, H. (2023). Motivational climate predicts effort and achievement in a large computer science course: Examining differences across sexes, races/ethnicities, and academic majors. International Journal of STEM Education, 10, Article 65. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00457-0
Jennifer Alexandra Thompson, Margaret Ellis, and Sara Hooshangi. 2023. The Impact of High School Region Socioeconmic Status on Computer Science Student Performance. 2023 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) Proceedings, College Station, Texas.
Margaret Ellis and Sara Hooshangi. 2023. Replication and Expansion Study on Factors Influencing Student Performance in CS2. In Proceedings of the 54th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education Vol. 1 (SIGCSE '23). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 896-902.https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3545945.3569867
Bob Edmison, Stephen H. Edwards, Lujean Babb, Margaret Ellis, Chris Mayfield, Youna Jung, and Marthe Honts. 2023. Toward a New State-level Framework for Sharing Computer Science Content. In Proceedings of the 54th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education Vol. 1 (SIGCSE '23). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 59-65. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3545945.3569808
Williams, D. et al. (2022). Data-Informed Learning Design in a Computer Science Course. In: Spector, M.J., Lockee, B.B., Childress, M.D. (eds) Learning, Design, and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_176-1
Ryan Gniadek, Margaret Ellis, Godmar Back, and Kirk Cameron (2022, August), Integrating DevOps to Enhance Student Experience in an Undergraduate Research Project. Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. https://peer.asee.org/40747
Margaret Ellis, Crystal Pee, Godmar Back, Walter Lee, and Kirk Cameron (2022, August), Using High Impact Practices to Broaden Undergraduate Participation in Computer Systems Research. Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. https://peer.asee.org/40475
Sara Hooshangi, Ryan Buxton, and Margaret Ellis. 2022. Integration of Practical Computing Skills and Co-curricular Activities in the Curriculum. In Proceedings of the 27th ACM Conference on on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education Vol. 1 (ITiCSE '22). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 61–67. https://doi.org/10.1145/3502718.3524802
Sara Hooshangi, Margaret Ellis, and Stephen H. Edwards. 2022. Factors Influencing Student Performance and Persistence in CS2. In Proceedings of the 53rd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE `22). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 286-292. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3478431.3499272
Allyson Senger, Stephen H. Edwards, and Margaret Ellis. 2022. Helping Student Programmers Through Industrial-Strength Static Analysis: A Replication Study. In Proceedings of the 53rd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE '22). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 8-14. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3478431.34993107
Domino, M. R., & Ellis, M. O., & Kafura, D. (2021, July), Qualitative Evaluation of Visualizations for List-based Iteration. Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual Conference. https://peer.asee.org/37624
Farghally, M. F., & Mohammed, M. K. O., & Mahmoud, H. F. F., & Ellis, M. O., & Haqq, D. A., & Domino, M. R., & Jones, B. D., & Shaffer, C. A. (2021, July), Student Perceptions of the Complete Online Transition of Two CS Courses in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual Conference. https://peer.asee.org/37755
Margaret Ellis, Liesl Baum, Kimberly Filer, and Stephen H. Edwards. 2021. Experience Report: Exploring the Use of CTF-based Co-Curricular Instruction to Increase Student Comfort and Success in Computing. In Proceedings of the 26th ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 1 (ITiCSE '21). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 303–309. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3430665.3456376i
Ellis, M., Edwards, S.H., Shaffer, C.A., and Amelink, C.T. 2020. Incorporating Practical Computing Skills Into a Supplemental CS2 Problem Solving Course. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice. 20, 11 (Dec. 2020). 13 pages. DOI:https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v20i11.3771
Duncan, S., Zhang, B., Thomason, W., Ellis, M., Meng, N., Stamper, M., Drape, T. Securing data in LIFE Sciences-A plant Food (EDAMAME) systems case study. Frontiers in Sustainability. 1 (2020, November 12).10 pages doi: 10.3389/frsus.2020.600394
Amelink, C.T., Edwards, S.H., Shaffer, C.A., & Ellis, M. (2020). “Incorporating Practical Computing Skills into a Supplemental CS2 Problem-solving Course”, ASEE, 13 pages.
Margaret Ellis, Clifford A. Shaffer, and Stephen H. Edwards. 2019. Approaches for Coordinating eTextbooks, Online Programming Practice, Automated Grading, and More into One Course. In Proceedings of the 50th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE '19). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 126–132. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3287324.3287487
Amelink, C.T., Ryder, B., Davis, K., & Ellis, M. (2018). “Exploring Factors Influencing the Career Interest in a Computer Science Major: A Case Study”, ASEE, 19 pages.
Sioson, A. A., J. I. Watkinson, C. Vasquez-Robinet, M. Ellis, M. Shukla, D. Kumar, N. Ramakrishnan, L. S. Heath, R. Grene, B. I. Chevone, et al., "Expresso and Chips: Creating a Next Generation Microarray Experiment Management Systems", Proceedings of the Next Generation Software Workshop, 17th International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium (IPDPS'03), Nice, France, IEEE Computer Society, 2003.
Watkinson, J. I., A. A. Sioson, C. Vasquez-Robinet, M. Shukla, D. Kumar, M. Ellis, L. S. Heath, N. Ramakrishnan, B. I. Chevone, L. T. Watson, et al., "Photosynthetic Acclimation is Reflected in Specific Patterns of Gene Expression in Drought-Stressed Loblolly Pine", Plant Physiology , vol. 133, no. 4, pp. 1702-1716, 2003.
M. Clement, M. Ellis, J. Steele, Y. Tian, C. North, "Gene expression mural: Visualizing gene expression databases", Proceedings of the IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization (InfoVis' 01), pp. 71 - 73, 2001.

Jones, B. D., Kim, I., Ellis, M., & Fenerci, H. (2025, April). Relationships between engineering course climate and domain-specific beliefs: Differences between men and women. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.
Jones, B. D., Kim, I., Fenerci, H., & Ellis, M. (2024, April). Relationships between the motivational climate in a computer science course and students’ attainment value. Research presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.
Jones, B. D., Zhu, X., Ellis, M., Fenerci, H., & Ambarkutuk, Z. (2023, August). Relationships between course motivational climate and students’ computer science beliefs and goals. Research to be presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington DC.
Ellis, M., Jones, B. D., Fenerci, H, & McCarty. (2023, June). Assessing the motivational climate in computer science courses to improve instruction. Research presented at the Illinois Computer Science Summer Teaching Workshop, Illinois University, virtual meeting.
Fenerci, H., Kaplan, A., Jones, B. D., & Ellis, M. (2023, April). Challenges in capturing motivational climate as a complex dynamic system: Application with the MUSIC Model of Motivation. Research presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
Jones, B. D., Ellis, M., Gu, F., & Fenerci, H. (2023, April). Course perceptions predict effort and achievement in an engineering course: Comparing genders, ethnicities, and majors. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
Ellis, M., Jones, B. D., Fenerci, H., & Gu, F. (2023, February). Differences in motivational climate in face-to-face, online, and hybrid courses. Research presented at the Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy, Blacksburg, VA.
Hooshangi, S., & Ellis, M. (2022). Impact of practical skills and co-curricular activities on students' professional development. Presented at ICER 2022 conference.
Ellis, M., Jones, B. D., Fenerci-Soysal, H., & Gu, F. (2022, May). Redesigning a computer science course during the pandemic: Effects on students’ motivation and achievement. Presentation at the Pandemic Pedagogy Research Symposium 2022, Duke University, virtual meeting.
Duncan, S., Zhang, B., Thomason, W., Ellis, M., Meng, N., Stamper, M., . . . Drape, T. (2021). Securing data in life sciences - A plant food (edamame) systems case study.. In Edamame Supply Chain Workshop, December 1-3, 2021. Charlotte, NC.
Ellis, M., Blank, A., Daily, S. (2021, March). Panel: Building a Successful Teaching Track Career. Pre-SIGCSE CRA-E Workshop, Virtual Conference.
Ellis, M., Back, G., Cameron, K, “Broadening Participation via Computer Systems Genome Research Group” via J. C. Adams et al., "Lightning Talks of EduHPC 2020," 2020 IEEE/ACM Workshop on Education for High-Performance Computing (EduHPC), GA, USA, 2020, pp. 59-64, doi: 10.1109/EduHPC51895.
Kathleen Freeman, Margaret Ellis, Jennifer Parham-Mocello, and Henry M. Walker. 2020. Panel: Supporting Student Co-Curricular Experiences. In Proceedings of the 51st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE ’20). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 641–642. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3328778.3366973, conference canceled due to COVID - 19.
Thomas Bressoud, Margaret Ellis, and Lea Wittie. 2020. “I’ve taken a first CS class and liked it! What’s next?” Exploring the Multiplicity of CS2 Paths for Majors and Non-Majors. In Proceedings of the 51st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE ’20). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 1401. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3328778.3372523, conference canceled due to COVID - 19. (Birds of a Feather Session)
Ellis, M., Esakia A.,(2019, August). Engaging Students with Capture-the-Flag Activities in Class. 2nd Annual Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference, Arlington, VA.
Ellis, M., Hilton M., Williams, T. (2019, February). Panel: Building a Successful Teaching Track Career. Pre-SIGCSE CRA-E Workshop, Minneapolis, MN.
Amelink, C.T., Hatfield, L., & Ellis, M. (2017, February). Factors Impacting the Career Interest of Computer Science Majors. Eastern Educational Research Association, Richmond, VA.
Ellis, M. (2015, July). Implementation of Strategies to Promote Self-efficacy in Computer Science. Women in Engineering ProActive Network Change Leader Forum, Denver, CO.
Ellis, M. (2010, October). iPad Apps for Assistive Technology and Special Education. Virginia Training and Technical Assistance Center TechKnowledgy Conference, Roanoke, VA.

2024 IEEE Mary Kenneth Keller Computer Science and Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award
2023 Computer Science Faculty Service Award, Virginia Tech
2023 Finalist, Student Engineers' Council Undergraduate Research Advisor Award, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech
2023 Finalist, College of Engineering Sporn Award for Undergraduate Instruction, Virginia Tech
2020 Dean's Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Engineering, Virginia Tech
2019 Finalist, Sporn Award for Teaching Introductory Subjects, Virginia Tech
2015 Engineering Inclusive Teaching (EIT) Inclusive Educators Award by Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN)
2011 Finalist, Innovator Award of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council
2011 DevelopEase profile, Chapter 7 of Computers and Society: Computing for Good by Lisa C. Kaczmarczyk.
2010 Finalist, Entrepreneur Award of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council
1998 Sallie Mae First Year Teacher Award

Margaret Ellis Computer Science, Virginia Tech

Courses

Project Involvement

Service

Publications

Conference Presentations

Conference Posters

Recognition