About Chris Allsman
Right now, I'm using this website as a hub for my work in college and as a way to organize stuff I make going forward. There's plenty to browse here, but feel free to contact me or check out me shamelessly flaunting my qualifications below!
Programming
I received a BA in Computer Science with High Distinction from UC Berkeley in 2019. While in school, my primary focuses were Computational Biology and Programming Languages, although I also explored a bit of Machine Learning and Systems Programming. While these remain my primary interests, I'm always trying to explore new areas!
I mainly use Python and Go for my day-to-day programming, and used Scheme extensively in my academic work. However, my largest projects were written in C, C++, and Java, so I feel quite comfortable using them. I've also dabbled in OCaml, Ruby, Prolog, and C#.
Teaching
From 2017-2019, I was a TA for CS 61A at UC Berkeley, which is the first computer science course most students take. For my final two semesters, I was a head TA responsible for developing and managing content, including homework, labs, discussion handouts, and a new project, recognized as a Nifty Assignment at SIGSCE 2020. Additionally, I was recognized as an Outstanding GSI and received an award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching and Leadership.
After I graduated, I was an instructor for CS61A during the Summer 2019 semester. In addition to giving lectures and managing logistics for over 600 students, I also developed the first online offering of the course. In my course evaluations, I was given a teaching effectiveness rating of 6.2/7, which meets or exceeds the effectiveness of other long-term professors that taught the course.
In addition to my positions on course staff, I was involved with Computer Science Mentors, an organization which attempts to reduce the barrier to entry for students interested in declaring Computer Science by offering small group tutoring and other resources. I was a mentor for 6 semesters, as well as a CS 61A course coordinator for 2 semesters and the Internal Vice President for 1 semester. In these roles, I was responsible for organizing content and logistics, but also introduced new training and initiatives related to mental health and addressing unconscious bias.