Douglas Lusa Krug

Virginia Commonwealth University, Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Paraná

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Douglas Lusa Krug is a leading voice in broadening participation in computing, with a research focus on culturally responsive computer science education. His work centers on leveraging music and hip-hop as powerful, non-traditional "hooks" to attract and engage underrepresented middle school students—particularly Black and Latino youth—into the field of computer science. Krug’s major contribution is the development and study of the "Code Beats" virtual summer camp, which integrates coding with hip-hop production to make computing accessible and relevant to students who might otherwise be turned off by traditional robotics or video game curricula. His foundational paper on this work has garnered 23 citations, establishing a new pathway for equity-focused CS education. Notably, Krug has also explored how to inspire interest in computing among students lacking prior music education, further refining his approach to ensure inclusivity. By challenging the assumption that only gamers or tech enthusiasts can become coders, Krug is reshaping how we think about computer science recruitment and retention, making him a pivotal figure in the movement to diversify the tech pipeline.