I am keenly interested in how undergraduate education at a leading public institution needs to change to meet today’s challenges: how to prepare graduates who thrive in their careers, who become civic and political leaders, and who lead consequential, fulfilling lives. In my view, this includes greater integration and application of learning in real-world, interdisciplinary problems, while still in university.

As an interdisciplinary scholar whose work spans computing and education, my research area is well-aligned with these priorities. I regularly supervise undergraduate CSE students (through CSE’s Experiential Learning and Research program and the Experiential Learning Network) working on developing theoretically-aligned educational technologies. I strongly believe these kinds of experiences should be prioritized in undergraduate education.

I have experience working collaborating across decanal units. I was the search chair for a (2023-2024) joint appointment between education and mathematics, during which I was proud to lead a group of faculty from different departments as we navigated difficult questions about the nature of the position, and how it would fit into each of our departments. My academic background is also interdisciplinary: my PhD is in Learning Sciences and Technology Design, I have a MS in Computer Science (focus areas: Artificial Intelligence and Human-Computer Interaction), and a MA in teaching English.

Finally, I have experience working vertically across secondary and postsecondary education. I was formerly a high school English teacher and a middle-school Computer Science teacher. For the past two years, I have also been UB’s lead in a University-Assisted Community Schools partnership between UB and Buffalo Public Schools. Our focus has been on how both institutions can use this partnership to better-support their students, and how they can work together to strengthen the civic and economic fabric of Buffalo and the state of New York.

Note: Although I am currently at the rank of assistant professor, I will be promoted to associate professor with tenure effective September 1, 2026.