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Assistant Professor of Technology, Innovation and Learning |
University of Southern California (USC), the Iovine and Young Academy (IYA) |
Lead Faculty at the Human Technology Interaction (HTI) Lab at USC IYA
I design future-ready learning and work models that bridge technology, design, and human values. At USC Iovine & Young Academy, I study and assess creative approaches to nurture emerging skills and competencies across disciplines and boundaries of work—from AI and XR to materials science and entrepreneurship.
I am a Assistant Professor of Technology, Innovation, and Learning at the USC Iovine and Young Academy, where I design and research new approaches to prepare people for the future of work.
My work examines how evolving sociotechnical landscapes shape the ways people learn, create, and collaborate--focusing on the intersection of skills, expertise, and evolving technologies. I develop creative approaches that sustain human practices in learning, innovation, and work, ensuring they remain central amid the growing influence of intelligent machines.
At USC IYA, I design and assess learning models that foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation at the intersection of technology, design, and entrepreneurship. This work spans domains of AI, digital/physical design, and innovation for the creative economy. It has led to the development of the Challenge Based Reflective Learning (CBRL) model, which I am currently applying and expanding in diverse contexts--including college settings, labs & studios, and community codesign contexts. My research has been published and awarded in leading venues such as CHI, Computers & Education, Academy of Management, and Journal of Workplace Learning.
Recent News
Recent News
(December, 2025) We just launched the Human Computer Interaction Lab at IYA USC.
(April, 2025) We presented our paper on makerspace design to enhance HCI learning for complex, real-world challenges at the 2025 CHI Coference in Yokohama, Japan.
(April, 2025) We presented a poster on transdisciplinary AI/ML education from the USC Center for AI in Society Symposium.
Current Work
Current Work
As a Principal Investigator for the IYA-Verizon Innovative Learning Research Initiative (funded by Verizon, Inc., $1M, 2023-2027), I design and assess innovative learning practices and models that support young learners in developing future-ready competencies at the intersection of technology, design, and entrepreneurship. My research examines how new forms of collaboration and expertise emerge as learners engage with real-world challenges through the CBRL framework across higher education, professional, and informal contexts (i.e., high schools in tech center). I also investigate how cross-sector partnerships and codesign approaches--bringing together students, educators, and industry and community partners--can advance sustainable learning ecosystems that respond to evolving workfoce and societal needs.
Highlighted Projects
Highlighted Projects
Learning HCI through Social, Material, and Spatial Design
Integrating physical space, materials and tools, and collaboration to prepare students for real-world HCI challenges
Designing AI for Collaborative Innovation
Studying how novice interdisciplinary teams create digital or physical products to inform AI tools that enhance cross-boundary innovation
Future Innovators: Growing Future Selves through Creative Making and Material Discovery
Expanding STEAM skills and career aspirations through product/materials design and making experiences
Professional Background
Professional Background
Prior to joining the faculty at USC, I was a postdoctoral research scientist and an Active Learning Initiative Fellow at Cornell University at the College of Computing and Information Science. I examined how active learning methods can improve teaching and learning experiences in interdisciplinary computing fields (e.g., Information Science, data and computing) where students are increasingly expected to gain skills and knowledge across divergent knowledge domains.
My Ph.D. in Information Science at Rutgers University iSchool led me to study the changing organizational infrastructures that shape people’s collective work and cross-functional innovation process, mediated by new technologies such as enterprise social media tools (ESNs). While focusing on knowledge (or knowing), I focused on cultural and organizational changes observed in Big Tech (e.g., open and decentralized structure in Silicon Valley) as well as the gig work economy (e.g., Ride-hailing industry and platform work). I received my Master’s degree at Teachers College, Columbia University where I engaged in a series of research and work related to workplace learning, training, and workforce development.
I also gained a diverse range of professional experiences, as I have worked and consulted with numerous for-profit and non-profit organizations including NBCUniversal Inc., the United Nations (UN), and the NYC Department of Education (NYC DoE). These experiences involved structuring effective cross-functional work for digital innovation, developing learning and training programs, and utilizing new digital technologies for enhancing workplace engagement.
I have taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels, both online and in-person. Past and current courses include the areas of Human Computer Interaction, UI/UX, Social Informatics, and Learning Sciences.
Personally, I find joy in capturing the memories of everyday moments and my travel experiences, all through the art of film photography.
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