Cody Cranch

Cody Cranch is a lead lecturer in computer science at UIC and has more than two decades of instructional experience. After receiving his BA in Japanese, he taught abroad for five years, then returned to Chicago to support various immigrant communities with English-language learning. He eventually earned an MA in applied linguistics with specializations in pronunciation, writing, and public speaking. More recently, Cody has expanded his portfolio to include certificates in educational technology, as well as hybrid/online course design.

Cody teaches two required computer science courses, both of which he built from scratch. The first is Professional and Technical Communication, a rare opportunity for students to focus on soft skills, interviewing, and post-graduation careers; in fact, Cody edits up to 200 students’ CVs per semester. The second course is Undergraduate TA Training, which helps newly hired teaching assistants navigate their responsibilities; topics include leading labs and holding office hours. For these accomplishments and more, Cody was awarded the College of Engineering’s Teaching Award for Excellence in 2018 and 2023.

Finally, Cody has been a proud member of Break Through Tech Chicago since its first year on campus and looks forward to supporting Sprinterns in a variety of ways. For example, he leads a series of résumé-review workshops for new applicants and MC’s several team-building activities during Sprinternship orientation. Most importantly — and most enjoyably — Cody coaches all Sprintern cohorts at the end of their experience, providing guidance and feedback on their final challenge project presentations.