Program News
Emma Benser Spoke About the Importance of Teaching Computer Science in Prison for CACM
Emma Benser, assistant professor of computer science at Bard College, published an article in the Communications of the ACM (CACM), the monthly journal of the Association for Computing Machinery. In the article and in a video interview with CACM, Benser stresses the importance of creating educational opportunities for those who are incarcerated.
Emma Benser Spoke About the Importance of Teaching Computer Science in Prison for CACM
Emma Benser, assistant professor of computer science.
The Computer Science Program at Bard focuses on the fundamental ideas of computer science and introduces students to multiple programming languages and paradigms, covering theoretical, applied, and systems-oriented topics. Most courses include hands-on projects so that students can learn by building, and by participating in research projects in laboratories devoted to cognition, computational biology, robotics, and symbolic computation.
Post Date: 05-14-2026
Bard Students Establish a ColorStack Chapter to Support Computer Science Students
Bard computer science students Nyla Lawrence ’26, Joseph Nartey ’26, and Karla Zarate ’26 have established the newest campus chapter of ColorStack, a national program dedicated to increasing the number of Black and Latinx students graduating with a computer science degree. The program hosts workshops, reviews resumes, and provides a wider support network for students as they pursue their degree.
Bard Students Establish a ColorStack Chapter to Support Computer Science Students
L-R: Colorstack chapter leaders Nyla Lawrence ’26, Joseph Nartey ’26, and Karla Zarate ’26.
Assistant Professor of Computer Science Emma Benser said the chapter is a promising sign and a resource for future students, particularly as it signals engagement with support networks for Black, Latinx, and other underrepresented students in computer science. “The establishment of this new ColorStack chapter is a major step towards equity for students of color in our program, as students can not only experience belonging in this new community on campus but also benefit from the external resources this national organization provides for Black and Latine students in computing,” she said. “The diversity of our students is a great strength of our computational sciences program here at Bard, and watching the students take this initiative to build community has been inspiring for me.”
Post Date: 03-03-2026
Valerie Barr Publishes an Op-Ed on AI in Communications of the ACM
Professor Valerie Barr wrote an opinion piece about AI and technological adoption in computer science programs for Communications of the ACM. In “Feeling Cranky About AI in CS Education,” Barr explains how during her 30 years of teaching, the field has been eager to adopt new technology quickly. But rather than pursuing the next big thing, she says instructors should think about what their students really need to learn.
Valerie Barr Publishes an Op-Ed on AI in Communications of the ACM
Margaret Hamilton Distinguished Professor of Computer Science Valerie Barr.
Barr has taught in the Computer Science Program at Bard since 2022. She has led national efforts to connect computing and other liberal arts disciplines into a shared curriculum. “Interesting innovative solutions to hard problems come from people who have experiences outside of class that don’t involve computing,” says Barr. “ [They] do something besides code all the time; like be on the debate team, sing in a choir, get involved in theater, take a dance class, study history, read poetry.”
Post Date: 09-23-2025