Meet the Faculty - John Bartucz

Tell us about your journey to the University of Minnesota.

I majored in computer science engineering as an undergraduate at Princeton. After graduation, I went to work for one of the first statistical arbitrage trading groups on Wall Street. In 2002, I moved out to Minnesota and started a web design company. During that time, I decided to get my master’s degree in computer science at the University of Minnesota.

I realized that I really wanted to teach, and jumped right in the deep end with middle school math. I really fell in love with it and went back to school to get my teaching license and master’s in education at Winona State. I was hired to create and teach the computer science curriculum at the public schools in Rochester and started working on my PhD in education and learning technologies. At that point, I was an adjunct professor at Rochester Community and Technical College and Winona State within their computer science departments. I decided I wanted to stick with higher education and started teaching full time in both the College of Education and Human Development and the Computer Science department, eventually moving to just Computer Science last year.

Why do you love computer science and what are your interests within the field?

I think computer science is the most powerful tool ever invented by humans. It has the potential to really change the world quickly in a way nothing ever has before. If we decide to use it in ways that are good for humanity, the potential upside is limitless.

My research interests are in using artificial intelligence (AI) for equity. Computer science has struggled with marginalizing students and being less inclusive and representative of the student body than other subjects. I think we can leverage the power of AI to help students feel more engaged with computer science. We can hyper personalize AI so that students can feel supported wherever they are in a way that best suits them. I hope that will lower some barriers for students to continue in the subject.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

The coolest part about teaching is when students understand that they can accomplish their own goals with computer science. It is the type of subject that has no ceiling. Once you learn the basics, you can take computer science and do whatever you want with it. When students realize that, it is really cool to see the different directions they take.

Which courses are you teaching this spring? What can students expect to get out of that class?

I am teaching three courses this spring: First, CSCI 3921W - Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Computing. I hope students get a sense of their own ethical perspectives and start thinking about how they want to approach their personal and professional decisions from an ethical perspective. I also teach CSCI 1133 - Introduction to Computing and Programming Concepts, which is an introduction to Python, and CSCI 1923 - Python as a Second Programming Language, which basically is an introduction to Python for students who have taken the intro Java or C++ class.

What do you do outside of the classroom for fun?

I play a lot of soccer. I like cross-country skiing in the winter. I also love the Boundary Waters; that is my happy place. I also enjoy supporting my family in all of their endeavors.

Do you have a favorite spot in the city?

I live in Rochester right now, and we are in the process of moving to the cities, but my favorite spot is probably around Lake Harriet.

Is there anything else you would like students to know about you?

Come to my office hours! Even if you are not taking my classes, I like talking about computer science and ethics and anything else in the subject.