Part-Time Faculty August Spotlight

By Liz Feldman On Behalf of the Part-Time Faculty Institute

Part-time faculty member Dr. Jose Vega has spent his entire career in education. He has earned numerous degrees and certifications in education, math, and technology.

Vega joined the College in 2023. He teaches a number of computer science courses through the Computer Science and Technologies Department on the Rockville campus. They include Computer Concepts, System Analysis and Design, and Introduction to Scripting.

Vega is originally from Puerto Rico. He attended the University of Puerto Rico in Carolina and earned a bachelor's degree in accounting. He also holds an associate's degree in hotel and restaurant administration. He later earned his master's in finance and master's in education from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Vega also holds two doctorate degrees. One is in finance from Northcentral University in Prescott, Arizona and the other is in Business Administration Information System from Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico.

He was a school teacher in Puerto Rico for 18 years and then served another 9 years as a school director. He taught mostly math and technology classes. When he retired from the Department of Education in Puerto Rico in 2022, he accepted an offer to teach Computer Science at John F. Kennedy High School in Montgomery County. About six months later, he joined the College. Vega also teaches at Bowie State University.

Vega comes from a family of teachers. His father is a retired welding teacher, and his mother is a retired social worker who was employed in a high school. Some of Vega's siblings also are teachers.

He has developed a teaching philosophy over the years that he said is student-centered, collaborative, and forward looking.

"I like to create an environment where learners feel both supported and challenged. I emphasize adaptability and connecting theory to practice. I also encourage critical thinking, and I try to foster problem solving skills that extend beyond the classroom," Vega said.

He said he hopes students who take his classes will "learn how to break complex problems into smaller parts, think logically and systematically, test assumptions, and approach ambiguity with structure."

Vega said teaching energizes him, and he loves sharing his knowledge about computer science.

"Teaching computer science never feels stale because new tools emerge, cybersecurity threats evolve, development paradigms shift, and artificial intelligence is changing workflows," Vega said.

The Laurel resident is one of three part-time faculty members honored in 2026 with a Shoenberg Fellowship. Vega's research focuses on how artificial intelligence is transforming educational practices in computer science and technology. He said he hopes it will raise important questions about AI's impact on student learning and skill development.

"This study examines the extent to which the use of ChatGPT influences students' development of debugging, problem solving, and independent critical thinking skills in coding courses. The research investigates whether the use of ChatGPT inhibits student development and reduces hands-on practice. It also exams whether students' reliance on ChatGPT promotes dependency that limits independent and critical thinking to code," Vega explained.

Early results from his study show while ChatGPT may offer short-term efficiency and support, excessive reliance on the tool does not appear to inhibit students' ability to learn and develop critical thinking skills.

"The study highlights the need for pedagogical frameworks that balance the instructional benefits of AI tools with strategies that preserve hands-on practice and cognitive skill development," Vega said.

He presented his research at The 2026 World Congress in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Applied Computing. The event was held in Las Vegas last month.

Often there is talk today about how AI will replace the need for coders in the future. Vega does not subscribe to that theory.

"I don't see that happening. My experiments with using ChatGPT for coding indicates there will always be errors, and you need people with coding experience to fix the errors. I see ChatGPT as a way to help with coding but not as something that will replace the need for people who are coders," Vega said.

When Vega is not conducting research or teaching, he enjoys watching sports, in particular basketball. He used to play baseball and basketball but these days he is just a fan. He also enjoys going to the gym. In addition, Vega said he loves spending time at the beach when he gets a chance to travel.