Hello,
Curtis C. Cain, Ph.D.
PROFESSOR | RESEACHER | LEADER
- Professional Summary
Enthusiastic, multifaceted, and result-driven academician with years of ample work experience of teaching, mentoring, organizing scholastic activities, moderating conferences, developing courses & curriculum, conducting & supervising researches for national and international journals. Diligent about researching and developing the content of learning materials for assigned courses within existing frameworks and make modifications in existing curriculum. Persuasive in commitment to students, transforming present potential into future capabilities, and commitment to raising standards of learning through my earned skills. Possess exemplary instructional, pedagogical, leadership, team-building, and excellent students’ conflict resolution abilities and accomplishments honed throughout an impressive career span.
- Education
Dissertation: Swimming Upstream: Black Males in Information Technology (IT) Higher Education
Pennsylvania State University, College of Information Sciences and Technology
Thesis: Social Networking Teaching Tools: A Computer Supported Collaborative Interactive Learning Environment for K-12
Auburn University, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering
Project: Integration of Mobile Computing in Automotive Applications
Major: Information Systems Engineering, Minor: Mathematics
Johnson C. Smith University, College of Computer Science and Engineering
- Academic Employment History
Associate Professor - Howard University
August 2022 – Present
School of Business, Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management
Affiliate Professor - Howard University
May 2017 – Present
College of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Assistant Professor - Howard University
August 2016 – July 2022
School of Business, Department of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management
Google Faculty-in-Residence
June - August 2018
Howard West Summer Faculty
May - August 2017
- Key Roles
Teach varied Information Technology modules/subjects to undergraduate and graduate students through lectures, sessions, group discussions, practical execution, competitions, and tutorials.
Adapt and individualize engaging lesson plans, course material, assessments, handouts, exercises, and conduct examinations to expedite their intelligence and create new horizons.
Centralize protocols and procedures for transition into virtual classes for uninterrupted learning through developing inclusion and finding the required resources to attain the learning objectives.
Conduct scholarly & research programs, advise on students' research matters, and support various research projects.
Apply appropriate research methodologies and analyze results/conclusions to formulate new concepts and ideas.
Attend faculty meetings, discussion sessions, and seminars regarding curriculum designing and development.
Participate in diverse professional development sessions focused on transitioning to the common core standards and enforce appropriate and effective methodologies.
Maintain comprehensive classroom management to facilitate the students in a caring environment.
Arrange one-on-one advisory and guidance sessions with the students to recognize their academic progress.
- Research Summary
Dr. Cain’s research interests are in Computer Science Education and Broadening Participation in Computing. Specifically, he studies Black people’s pathway into computing and engineering to analyze roadblocks and barriers to entry and to sustain success in the field. His goals are to invoke unique approaches invoking theory to investigate and address the underrepresentation of minority groups in computing. Dr. Cain’s research integrates people, technology, information, policy, and culture to address societal issues. He is an expert in social inclusion, gender and racial theories, and interpretative epistemology.
- Referred Journal Manuscripts
Cain, C.C. (2022). Black Men in IT: Overcoming Digital Inequality in Pursuit of Career Goals. The International Journal of Diversity in Education, 22(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-0020/CGP/v22i02/1-12
Cain, C.C. and Trauth, E.M. (2022). The Pursuit of Tech Degrees for Black Men in the United States: Belonging and Happiness, an Individual Differences Study. Technology in Society, 69, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101835
Cain, C.C., Morgan Bryant, A.J., Buskey, C.D., Myers Ferguson, Y. (2022). Generation Z, Learning Preferences, and Technology: An Academic Technology Framework Based on Enterprise Architecture. The Journal of the Southern Association for Information Systems, 9, 1-14. https://doi.org/doi:10.17705/3JSIS.00019
Cain, C. C. (2022). A Shifting Research Agenda: Historically Black Colleges and Universities Must Prepare Students for Careers in Computing, Informatics, and Engineering. Journal of Information Systems Education, 33(1), 41-50. https://jise.org/-Volume33/n1/JISE2022v33n1pp41-50.html
Cain, C. C. (2021). Establishing a research agenda for broadening participation of Black men in computing, informatics, and engineering. Technology in Society, 67, 101790. https://doi.org/10.1016/-j.techsoc.2021.101790
Cain, C. C. (2021). Beyond the IT Artifact—Studying the Underrepresentation of Black Men and Women in IT. Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 24(3), 157–163. https://doi.org/10.1080/-1097198X.2021.1954315
Cain, C. C., and Trauth, E.M. (2017). Black Men in IT: Theorizing an Autoethnography of a Black Man’s Journey into IT within the United States of America. ACM SIGMIS Database: The DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems, 48(2), 35–51. https://doi.org/10.1145/-3084179.3084184
Trauth, E. M., Cain, C. C., Joshi, K. D., Kvasny, L., & Booth, K. M. (2016). The Influence of Gender-Ethnic Intersectionality on Gender Stereotypes about IT Skills and Knowledge. ACM SIGMIS Database: The DATABASE for Advances in Information Systems, 47(3), 9–39. https://doi.org/10.1145/-2980783.2980785
- Referred Book Chapters
Cain, C.C. (Forthcoming). Education and Research Strategies for Addressing the Underrepresentation of Black Men in Computing. Handbook of Gender & Technology: Environment, Identity, Individual. Edward Elgar Publishing
- Referred Conference Proceedings
Trauth, E., Bryant, A., Cain, C., Potter, L. E., Quesenberry, J. L., Trauth, S., & van Slyke, C. (2019, June). Addressing Social Inclusion in the IS Field through Theatre. Proceedings of the 2019 on Computers and People Research Conference. https://doi.org/-10.1145/3322385.3322412
Cain, C.C., Bryant Morgan, A., Buskey, C.D., Washington, G., and Burge, L. (2019). Research Implications of the Tech Exchange: Immersion of Howard University Computer Science and Informatics Students in Silicon Valley. Proceedings of the 25th Americas Conference on Information Systems, (Cancun, Mexico). https://aisel.aisnet.org/-amcis2019/social_inclusion/-social_inclusion/9
Buskey, C.D., Goel, R., and Cain, C.C. (2019). Establishing a framework to Measure Strategic Social Value of Online Engagements: A Model for Determining Social Identity. Proceedings of the ACM SIGMIS Computers and People Research Conference (Nashville, TN). https://doi.org/-10.1145/3322385.3322404
Cain, C.C., Morgan Bryant, A.J., Buskey, C.D. & Goel, R. (2018). The Role of Tech Corporations at Historically Black Colleges and Universities in American STEM Education. Proceedings of the 24th Americas Conference on Information Systems (New Orleans, LA). https://aisel.aisnet.org/-amcis2018/SocialInclusion/-Presentations/6
Cain, C.C., Morgan Bryant, A.J. & Buskey, C.D. (2018). The Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in American STEM Education. Proceedings of the ACM SIGMIS Computers and People Research Conference (Buffalo, NY). https://doi.org/10.1145/-3209626.3209712
Cain, C.C., Trauth, E.M. (2016). Black Lives Matter: The Journey of a Black IT Scholar. Proceedings of the ACM SIGMIS Computers and People Research Conference (Washington, D.C.). Best Paper Nominee. https://doi.org/10.1145/-2890602.2890623
Cain, C.C. and Trauth, E.M. (2015). Theorizing the Underrepresentation of Black Males in Information Technology (IT). Proceedings of the 21th Americas Conference on Information Systems (Puerto Rico). https://aisel.aisnet.org-/amcis2015/SocTech/-GeneralPresentations/22
Cain, C.C. and Trauth, E.M. (2013). The Underrepresentation of Black Males in IT Higher Education: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Individual Differences. Proceedings of the 19th Americas Conference on Information Systems (Chicago, IL). https://aisel.aisnet.org-/amcis2013/SocialTechnicalIssues/-RoundTablePresentations/4
Cain, C.C. and Trauth, E.M. (2013). Stereotype Threat: The Case of Black Males in the IT Profession. Proceedings of the ACM SIGMIS Computers and People Research Conference (Cincinnati, OH). https://doi.org/10.1145-/2487294.2487305
Cain, C.C. and Trauth, E.M. (2012). Black Males in IT Higher Education in The USA: The Digital Divide in the Academic Pipeline Re-visited. Proceedings of the 18th Americas Conference on Information Systems (Seattle, WA). https://aisel.aisnet.org/-amcis2012/proceedings/-SocialIssues/7
Cain, C.C. (2012). Underrepresented Groups in Gender and STEM: The Case of Black Males in CISE. Proceedings of the ACM SIGMIS Computers and People Research Conference (Milwaukee, WI). https://doi.org/10.1145/-2214091.2214118
Trauth, E.M., Cain, C.C., Joshi, K.D., Kvasny, L., and Booth, K. (2012). Embracing Intersectionality in Gender and IT Career Choice Research. Proceedings of the ACM SIGMIS Computers and People Research Conference (Milwaukee, WI, May-June). https://doi.org/10.1145-/2214091.2214141
Trauth, E.M., Cain, C.C., Joshi, K.D., Kvasny, L. and Booth, K. (2012). Understanding Underrepresentation in IT through Intersectionality. Proceedings of the 2012 iConference (Toronto, CA). https://doi.org/10.1145/-2132176.2132184
- Funded External Grants
Overcoming Obstacles, Building Community, and Broadening Participation: A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences and Career Decisions of Black Men in Computing, Howard University
2021 - 2026
P.I.: Curtis C. Cain
CAREER, National Science Foundation (Funding Rate < 5%)
Award #2047292
Total - $695,014
Cybersecurity Education Innovation, Howard University
2021 - 2022
P.I.: Curtis C. Cain, Rajni Goel, and Danda B. Rawat
National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, National Security Agency (Funding Rate < 10%)
Total - $300,000
- Teaching Philosophy
Dr. Cain’s teaching philosophy is derived from lived experiences inside the classroom as a student, observations within the classroom as a researcher, and industry experience. His philosophy is formed by two educational principles:
Students learn best when they can connect the information to what is meaningful to them, to what they care about; and
Concepts are learned best through exposure to their application. Dr. Cain believes in a shared sense of ownership when it comes to student learning and employs a mixed teaching style approach to accomplish the philosophies that are critical to converting data to information and knowledge.
- Courses
Management Information Systems
Database Management
Quantitative Business Analysis
Introduction to Java
Software Engineering
Management Statistics & Data Analysis
Principles of Information Systems
Seminar in Information Systems
- Service
Member
Howard University-IBM Data Science Team
Member
Center for Applied Data Science
Member
Interdisciplinary Faculty Consortium
Member
Executive Committee
Co-Chair
Technology Committee
Member
Judiciary Committee
Developer
Graduate Principles of Information Systems Course Redesign (Online MBA Program)
Developer
Graduate Management Statistics and Data Analysis Course Redesign (Executive MBA Program)
Member
Library, Facility, and Technology Committee
Member
Dean’s Technology Trust
Chair
Faculty-Student Relations Committee
Member
Faculty-Student Relations Committee
Member
Community Relations Committee
Faculty Advisor
Emerging Coders
Faculty Advisor
Computer Based Information Systems Society (COBISS)
Co-Founder
BLKGENIUS 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization
Advisory Board Member
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation
Editorial Board
Technology in Society
Reviewer
ACM SIGCHI, ACM SIGMIS-CPR, Information Technology & People, Information Systems Research, Information Systems Journal, AMCIS, National Science Foundation
Summer Externship
Faculty-in-Residence, Google LLC
Alumni Member
The PhD Project
- MEDIA
Cloud Computing Degree Programs Help Fill Workforce Gaps (EdTech Magazine) – https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/k12/article/2022/08/cloud-computing-degree-programs-help-fill-workforce-gaps
Challenging Technology – https://magazine-howard.edu/-stories/challenging-technology
Google’s program for Black college students suffered disorganization and culture clashes, former participants say – https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/21/google-howard-west-program-faced-disorganization-culture-clashes.html
Course Hero-WW Fellows Named for 2019 – https://woodrow.org/news/course-hero-fellows-2019/
Google FIR 2018 – https://youtu.be/j1cRjrez0BQ
LSAMP 25 years – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DS7a-AXvuU
- Videos
