Professor Jamie Kretsch earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Monmouth College (now Monmouth University) and her Master of Science degree in Computer Sciences from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She began her career as a member of the research team at Bell Laboratories while still an undergraduate, developing algorithms and software for experimental video conferencing systems. As an MTS in the development area of AT&T Bell Laboratories, she worked in the area of central office operations support, developing systems used to enhance the functioning and reliability of the telephone network.

Professor Kretsch began teaching computer science at Monmouth in the 1980s, concentrating on the courses in the Information Technology Minor program after it was established in the 1990s. Responsible for the experiential Information Technology capstone course IT450, Prof. Kretsch interacts with external clients interested in supporting student education with website and relational database development projects.

In recent years, Professor Kretsch has worked within the university and the community to improve representation of women and minorities in computing and technology careers. Her efforts have included visiting area schools with university computing students, hosting “Hour of Code” activities for the community to encourage family coding experiences, inviting high school students to participate in computing competitions, and developing and offering multiple sections of a Seminar course on “The Diversity Divide: Technology”. The seminar course introduced first year students to inequities across gender and racial boundaries within everyday technologies such as video games and facial identification powered through Artificial Intelligence (frequently encountered in social media) and in media, education and career development.

Professor Kretsch served as Computer Science and Software Engineering Department Chair from 2015 to 2018.