My name is Joel Kemp. I’m currently working as a software engineer at YouNow while serving as an Adjunct lecturer at NYU and doing my Ph.D. in Computer Science at the CUNY Graduate Center.
Teaching
I absolutely love teaching and inspiring students and have been doing so long before my professional experience! I believe that the best way to teach is to curate the material for the layperson; if such an individual can walk away feeling empowered, then I have done my job.
In fact, I feel so strongly about distilling material into simple terms that I can successfully teach my students “complicated” areas of Computer Science such as: Artificial Intelligence, Computability Theory, Infinite Set Theory, and Computer Networking.
My youth and experience allow me to relate to my students in a way that creates an enjoyable environment — highly conducive to learning!
I have been teaching Computer Science courses as an Adjunct Lecturer since 08/2008 at various institutions (listed below) within the City University of New York (CUNY) and New York University (NYU).
During my lectureship, I have received stellar feedback scores from both faculty and students. Such feedback scores are available upon request.
New York University
Spring/Fall 2012 Teacher Evaluation: 4.7 / 5.0 (Class size: 51)
Courses Taught:
- CSCI-UA.0002: Introduction to Computer Programming
CUNY Hunter College
Fall 2011 Teacher Evaluation: 6.61 / 7.0 (Class size: 50)
Courses Taught:
- CSCI 120: Introduction to Computers
- CSCI 127: Introduction to Computer Science
- CSCI 135: Analysis & Design 1
- CSCI 136: Supervised Programming Lab
CUNY City College
Courses Taught:
- CSc 322: Software Engineering Lab
Development Experience
I started programming when I got to started my undergrad in Computer Science. Since then, I’ve engaged in developing various systems: enterprise/bespoke software, computer games, web applications, Android applications, and research-related image processing solutions.
I am particularly fascinated with software design (and design patterns), user interactions, and software optimization problems.
Programming Languages
- Currently Using: Javascript and PHP
- Have Used: C++, Java, C#, Python, HTML/CSS, PHP, Javascript, Visual Basic 6.0/.NET, ASP.NET, Haskell, Prolog, SQL
I am a generalist when it comes to software development: effectively utilizing any language and technology needed to realize the solution.
Interests
Aside from academic interests, I travel extensively and eat any and everything — hoping to learn more about cultures through food. I’m also quite the beer aficionado and love to try new craft beers.
I occasionally write poetry and enjoy languages. Speaking of which, I’ve studied Spanish and introductory Polish; the latter of which is a formidable, yet exciting challenge!
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Important Links
Citations
Featured Graduate Student in the Grove School of Engineering Annual Report, 2009
“The CUNY system is fantastic. I would love to be a professor here.”
Joel Kemp was a stellar student in the Grove School’s undergraduate computer science program, when his advisor, Dr. Jie Wei, inspired him to remain at CUNY for his doctorate. Joel’s area of interest is image indexing, and he is working on ways to search for images and videos through visual cues rather than key words. Of his first year in graduate school, he says, “The doctoral course work is incredibly challenging, especially the theoretical part. But, the program presents great opportunities. I will be taking a course at NYU, so being at CUNY allows me to take advantage of New York City’s educational resources.” And, Joel has found his vocation in teaching. As a lecturer in the lab sessions of Dr. Wei’s software engineering course, he reorganized the structure of the lab, resulting in the best attendance in the last four years and a significant increase in student productivity.
Featured Undergraduate Student in the Grove School of Engineering Annual Report, 2007
“City is full of people who want to learn and grow, and they make great friends.”
“When I find a course with real world applications,” says Joel Kemp, “I live that course.” Joel came to the Grove School looking for a discipline that would challenge him, and he found it in computer science. He has applied his expertise as he has acquired it, working as a PC technician and then as a software developer during the summers in Belize. “The Grove School has given me the technical know-how which I need for the workplace,” he says. As president of the Association of Computing Machinery chapter on campus, Joel has found an outlet for his gregarious nature and has developed his leadership skills while strengthening the organization through speakers, lectures from students, and workshops. “City,” he says, “is full of people who want to learn and grow, and they make great friends. If you are surrounded by people who are determined, you become determined yourself.”
