I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Northwestern University, with a courtesy appointment in Computer Science. I am the director of the Creative Interfaces Research + Design Studio, and I advise students in Northwestern's Media, Technology, and Society (MTS), Technology and Social Behavior (TSB), and Computer Science PhD programs. I am a human-centered AI researcher interested in issues surrounding AI literacy and human-AI interaction. My research looks to how humans interact and learn as a way of informing the design of public AI literacy interventions as well as the development of AI that can interact naturally and improvise creatively with people in complex social environments. I employ a variety of methodologies and theoretical frameworks in my research, drawing on the learning sciences, design research, and cognitive science. I have experience working with artists and museums around the country to develop co-creative, embodied exhibits and art installations involving AI and technology.
I received my PhD in Human Centered Computing from Georgia Tech with a specialization in Learning Sciences and Technology and a minor in Design Research. I completed my undergraduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill, where I received a BS in Computer Science with a second major in Dramatic Art.
In my free time, I love to read, cook, take walks with my dog, visit museums, and garden.