Teaching

Building curricula and mentoring student researchers.

Seven years directing game programming, HCI, and data science instruction, with a research practice built through independent-study mentorship.

4.68/5.0Contribution to course success (avg.)
4.73/5.0Instructor enthusiasm (avg.)
25+Independent-study researchers mentored
9Courses built from scratch

Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Elmhurst University, Elmhurst, IL

Aug 2023 – Present

  • Mentored a research group of independent-study students building custom Unity games for player experience research
  • Proposed and developed six new courses: Foundations of Data Science with Python, four courses for the Game Programming concentration, and Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction
  • Mentored 15+ undergraduate independent-study projects; multiple students co-authored peer-reviewed publications and presented at academic conferences
  • Supervised 10 independent studies

Courses taught: Cryptography · Foundations of Data Science with Python · Computer Science I (C++) · Visual C# Programming · Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction · Web Design & Development · Foundations of Game Programming · Computer Game Design · 3-Dimensional Computer Game Design (Unity, C#) · Aikido I & II

Assistant Professor
Bradley University, Peoria, IL

Aug 2019 – Aug 2023

  • Chaired the CSIS Department Curriculum Committee (2021–2023)
  • Mentored 4 graduate research assistants on research projects, and supervised 10 undergraduate independent studies
  • Proposed and developed two courses for the Computer Game Technology concentration

Courses taught: Introduction to Programming (Java) · Advanced Programming Concepts (C++) · Foundations of Game Programming · Game Programming Design Patterns · Computer Game Modification

Teaching Fellow
DePaul University, Chicago, IL

Sep 2018 – Aug 2019

Courses taught: HCI 430, Prototyping and Implementation (graduate) · ISM 210, Introduction to HCI · GAM 312, Playtesting

In their words

Selected student feedback

"The instructor's passion for game development always shows."

CGE 401, Fall 2024

"It was an overall fun class with a fun professor. Glad because of this class I was able to start making my personal website. I'm excited to learn more and work to improve on it in the future."

CS 315, Spring 2024

"This course contained the most interesting, engaging, and entertaining material out of anything I've taken so far, and I'm a graduating senior. I'm coming out of it confident in my fundamental game development skills and eager to apply them to my own passion projects in the future. There was a good balance of lecture material, personal learning, and engaging information. Thanks for the wonderful semester, all the best."

CIS 350, Spring 2022

"Phenomenal teacher. Takes a lot of time to review student work and provides extensive feedback. Prof. Schaffer prepared for each class and presented the information very well in a way that made sense. Homework assignments and projects felt worthwhile. I feel that I learned a lot from this class."

CIS 497, Spring 2021

"Professor Schaffer made this course very enjoyable. His genuine interest regarding all of the different things we could do with HTML, CSS, jQuery, and Bootstrap in order to make websites look and feel professional, responsive, and in general appear to 'come to life' definitely contributed to my consistent engagement throughout this course. I wholeheartedly thank him for this."

CS 315, Spring 2025