Elisa Baniassad

Elisa Baniassad serves as Professor of Teaching in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, where she has established herself as an innovative educator and researcher in software engineering and programming languages. After completing her PhD at UBC in 2001, she built an impressive international career teaching at institutions including Trinity College Dublin, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Australian National University before returning to UBC. Her research contributions span aspect-oriented programming, software engineering education, and team dynamics in software development. Her co-authored book "Aspect-Oriented Analysis and Design: The Theme Approach" has become a foundational text in the field. Recently appointed as Deputy Academic Director of UBC's Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, she continues to shape computer science education through innovative teaching methods and curriculum development. Her excellence in teaching has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2023 CS-Can/Info-Can Excellence in Teaching award and the UBC Killam Teaching Prize. At UBC, she primarily teaches Software Construction (CPSC 210) and Software Engineering (CPSC 310), where she focuses on helping students write programs that closely mirror their design intentions. Her recent work has expanded into studying issues of belonging in teams and alternative grading practices, including mastery learning and ungrading approaches.