![Computer Science Department Faculty and Staff](images/computer-science/Computer Science Dept Faculty Staff.jpg)
Sara Sprenkle Associate Professor of Computer Science
![Sara Sprenkle](images/directory/sprenkles.jpg)
Parmly 410
540-458-8309
sprenkles@wlu.edu
Website -
Curriculum Vitae
On Leave Winter 2025
Education
Ph.D., computer and information sciences at the University of Delaware (2007)
M.S., computer science from Duke University (2004)
B.S., computer science and mathematics from Gettysburg College (1999)
Research
Research Interests include software testing, distributed systems, empirical studies, and digital humanities.
Current Research:
Professor Sprenkle's current research focuses on automatically testing Web applications, including cost-effective approaches to generating test cases and determining that the application is behaving appropriately. She is also the technical director for the Ancient Graffiti Project.
Teaching
Professor Sprenkle teaches the introductory programming course, software development, algorithms, and upper-level electives in software engineering--including a course in developing web applications and software tools--and distributed systems. She developed a new course in digital humanities with Paul Youngman.
Selected Publications
- Rebecca Benefiel, Sara Sprenkle, Holly M Sypniewski, and Jamie White, "The Ancient Graffiti Project: Geo-Spatial Visualization and Search Tools for Ancient Handwritten Inscriptions," Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Digital Access to Textual Cultural Heritage, 2017.
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Jeff Barry, Julie Knudson, Sara Sprenkle, and Paul Youngman, "Launching the Digital Humanities Movement at Washington and Lee University: A Case Study." The Academic Commons. 2014.
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Sara Sprenkle, Lori Pollock, and Lucy Simko '11. "Configuring effective navigation models and abstract test cases for web applications by analysing user behaviour." Software Testing, Verification and Reliability. Wiley. 2013.
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Sara Sprenkle, Camille Cobb '12, and Lori Pollock. "Leveraging User-Privilege Classification to Customize Usage-based Statistical Models of Web Applications" International Conference on Software Testing, Verification and Validation (ICST), IEEE, April 2012.
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Sara Sprenkle and Shannon Duvall. "Reshaping the Image of Computer Science in Only Fifteen Minutes (of Class) a Week." SIGCSE Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education, ACM, March 2012.
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Sara Sprenkle, Lori Pollock, and Lucy Simko '11. "A Study of Usage-Based Navigation Models and Generated Abstract Test Cases for Web Applications." International Conference on Software Testing, Verification and Validation (ICST), IEEE, March 2011. Best Research Paper Award.
- Jeff Chase, Laura Grit, David Irwin, Justin Moore, and Sara Sprenkle. "Dynamic Virtual Clusters in a Grid Site Manager.'' In proceedings of the Twelfth International Symposium on High Performance Distributed Computing (HPDC)}, June 2003. Selected as #4 of the Best Papers of HPDC 1992-2012.
Other Interests
Professor Sprenkle enjoys volunteering with Rockbridge Animal Alliance, gardening, and reading about pop culture.