Cole Nelson isn’t new to Computer Sciences at UW-Madison: He recently earned an MS in the department. Nelson began his studies at the beginning of the Covid pandemic and wasn’t able to come to campus until a year into his program. He first got into computer science through MIT’s Scratch coding community and now wants “to teach students not only about building web applications and user interfaces but doing so in a secure and usable manner.” Nelson was born and raised in Wisconsin and calls it “the best place to be!”
Hometown:
Hingham, WI
Educational/professional background:
B.S. Software Engineering, UW-Platteville
M.S. Computer Science, UW-Madison
How did you get into your field of research/teaching?
MIT’s Scratch programming language got me into Computer Science, and UW-Platteville’s TEACHING 1230 got me into education. My experience with Nelnet got me interested in web application security.
What are your areas of focus?
Computer Science Education, Web App Security
What main issue do you address or problem do you seek to solve in your work?
To teach students not only about building web applications and user interfaces but doing so in a secure and usable manner.
What’s one thing you hope students who take a class with you will come away with?
To build web applications and user interfaces in a secure and usable manner.
What attracted you to UW-Madison?
Born and raised in Wisconsin, this is the best place to be 🙂
What was your first visit to campus like?
Virtual! I started grad school here in Fall 2020 and didn’t really get to step foot on campus until the following year.
What are you looking forward to doing or experiencing in Madison?
My wife and I look forward to living in such a vibrant, beautiful, and growing city.
Do you feel your work/teaching relates in any way to the Wisconsin Idea? If so, please describe how.
Students will be able to make the world a better place by connecting people by building usable user interfaces.
Hobbies/other interests:
State parks, hiking, and attending tech conferences