Joreen Arigye: Pioneering Education and Engineering from Uganda to Purdue

Joreen Arigye, now an Assistant Professor of Practice in the Center for Computing Education at The Ohio State University, hails from Mbarara district in the Ankole region of western Uganda, fondly known as the “Land of Milk and Honey.” Her journey reflects both vision and resilience, marking her as a trailblazer—most notably as a proud first-generation Ph.D. in her extended family.

She earned her B.S. in Software Engineering from Makerere University, Uganda and her M.S. in Information Technology, with concentrations in Software Engineering and Data Science, from Carnegie Mellon University Africa. Her calling toward education was inspired by a long line of educators in her family, including parents and grandparents who were dedicated primary and high school teachers.

With a strong engineering background, she sought a doctorate that bridged engineering and education. A Google search led her to Purdue, where she attended a virtual open house during the pandemic and connected with alumnus Moses Olayemi, who provided valuable guidance on the application process. She also sought mentorship from her family, peers, and her then-boss, Brianna Schuyler, Ph.D., regarding navigating the application and the doctoral journey ahead. 

Joreen officially began her Ph.D. in Engineering Education in Autumn 2021. She navigated the challenges of moving to a new country and continent, including adjusting to a new culture, foods, seasonal weather, administrative systems, and academic expectations, while coping with homesickness, social isolation, and the task of building a support network. At Purdue, she worked with Alejandra Magana, Ph.D. and enay Purzer, Ph.D. as a graduate research assistant, contributing to projects on undergraduate engineering students’ computational experiences, data management practices, and engineering design reasoning frameworks. She also pursued personal research interests, including the landscape of online computer programming education in Africa.

Beyond academics, Joreen found a welcoming community among peers from across the globe. Her time at Purdue broadened her perspective on both the practice and scholarship of engineering education and opened global opportunities through conferences, internships, and collaborative research.

Joreen graduated in the summer of 2025 and continues to pursue her passion for making computing accessible to all students, not just STEM majors. Through her teaching, scholarship, and personal journey, she hopes to continue inspiring students, particularly young women, to pursue advanced degrees in STEM with confidence, knowing they will be supported and nurtured along the way.