PhD Students

PhD Students

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Altshuler, Mari

Altshuler, Mari

MariAltshuler2023@u.northwestern.edu

 


Degrees

  • PhD in progress, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University
  • MAT, Urban Teacher Education Program, University of Chicago
  • BS, Geology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Biography

I’ve been teaching for the MSED program since 2019 and working in P-12 learning since 2009. When I’m not teaching an MSED course, I’m writing a dissertation about young children’s relationships with mathematics.

Aslan, Umit

Aslan, Umit

UmitAslan2014@u.northwestern.edu


Degrees

  • MSc, Bogazici University, 2014
  • BS, Bogazici University, 2010
Bar-El, David

Bar-El, David


Degrees

  • BA, Psychology and Communication, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, 2015

Research Interests

 Learning across formal and informal spaces; making & tinkering; interactive design for children

Barry (McDaid), Nikki

Barry (McDaid), Nikki


Degrees

  • MA in Teaching, Pacific University, 2016
  • BS in Sociology, Northeastern University, 2011

Research Interests

Nikki Barry (McDaid) (Shoshone-Bannock) is a doctoral student in Learning Sciences at Northwestern University. Her research interests are broadly focused on informal and formal learning environments at the intersection of land-based education and Indigenous resurgence. More specifically, she wants to understand the ways that youth in land-based learning environments recognize personhood of more-than-human animals and plants and whether or not the propensity to do so might be correlated with the ways youth engage in decision-making around social and environmental concerns. Nikki earned her M.A. in Teaching from Pacific University and her B.S. in Sociology from Northeastern University. She also has experience as a middle school and high school English and Musical Theatre teacher and has two children of her own.   

Berger, Wade

Wade Berger


Degrees

  • MS in Curriculum & Instruction, UW Madison
  • BS in Secondary Education, Indiana University-Bloomington

Research Interests

Wade works with informal educators -- those people who make after-school clubs, museums and summer camps so cool. He helps informal educators understand what makes learning happen in those out-of-school settings. In his research with community partners, he studies how these informal educators build the wealth of knowledge and expertise they bring to youth, and the ways that informal educators learn from and with each other in professional training. He has an M.S. from UW-Madison from the Games+Learning+Society Center, and started his career as a high school social studies teacher.

Bisht, Gautam

Bisht, Gautam


Degrees

  • BA in English Literature , Delhi University, 2012
  • MA in Film Studies, Ambedkar University, 2015
  • M Phil in Development Practice, Ambedkar University, 2018

Research Interests

My area of interest emerges from the educational initiatives I have undertaken as part of my organisation in the domain of language, literacy and culture. These initiatives comprise of two levels: (i) working directly with an indigenous youth collective in India on literacy, digital and teaching skills and (ii) working indirectly with children (6-12 age group) through community learning centers as facilitated by the youth collective mentioned above. With the youth my focus is on understanding the complex overlap of digital media, literacy and (counter) narratives. With the children my focus is on co-designing pedagogic spaces with community youth that are multilingual and culturally responsive. Broadly I am moved by anything that invokes critical pedagogy, integration of theory and practice, community based design, applied linguistics and philosophy of education.

Bruce, Forrest

Bruce, Forrest


Degrees

LastName-FirstName

Brucker, Maddie

Brucker, Maddie

Brucker, Maddie


Degrees

Chang, Amy

Chang, Amy


Degrees

  • MS, Journalism, National Taiwan University 台灣大學, 2009
  • BA, Foreign Languages and Literature, National Taiwan University 台灣大學, 2005

Research Interests

My research interests focus on the social and cultural dynamics of learning in the context of globalization and emerging technologies,with a specific focus on language, multimodal literacy, diversity and civic journalism. My current research explores how immigrant youth leverage their funds of knowledge and the affordance of multiple modalities to construct documentaries that inform public debates on social issues through participating in a multimedia journalism curriculum. I am also interested in exploring how people from diverse cultural backgrounds engage in new forms of learning and how social media and mobile technologies can be leveraged to bridge the gap between formal education and everyday experiences.

Chávez-Victoria

Victoria C. Chávez


Degrees

  • M.A. Urban Education Policy
  • B.A. Computer Science and Hispanic Studies

Research Interests

I'm broadly interested in computer science education, accessibility, civic technology, and social justice. Most of my research interests stem from asking "How can we make Computer Science a safe and joyous experience for Black, Disabled, Latinx, and Indigenous college students?"

Chen, John (Yuehan)

Chen, John (Yuehan)

Degrees

  • B. A. in Chinese Language and Literature, Beijing Normal University, 2016

Research Interests

My research interest lies in the intersection of Learning Sciences and Human-Computer Interaction, with a focus on informal learning, mobile learning, scaling, and emergent social behavior and learning design from massive learning communities. 

Elliott, Shante

Elliott, Shante


Degrees

Frausto-Alejandra

Frausto Aceves, Alejandra

alejandrafrausto@u.northwestern.edu


Degrees

  • MEd in Educational Leadership with Distinction, DePaul University, 2014
  • BS in the Teaching of Chemistry, University of Illinois in Chicago, 2005

Research Interests

With 17 years in education, I have served in various roles, including teaching science and other content areas from 6th grade through adult students in an alternative setting, working as a curriculum coach and associate principal, and leading service learning for the third largest district in the U.S. My research examines transformative collective learning in K12 science education, teacher collectives, and interdisciplinary teams with school leaders. Within these contexts, I hope to continue to contribute to how we understand intergenerational & community-based co-constructions, imaginations, and praxis, as well as learning and pedagogies towards expansive and agentic present-futures.

Green-Peri-Ella

Green, Peri Ella

peri@u.northwestern.edu


Degrees

  • Ed.M. in Technology, Innovation, & Education (Harvard)
  • BBA in Business Technology (University of Miami)

Research Interests

Informal Learning, Cyberlearning

Guerra, Mario

Guerra, Mario


Degrees

Hedayati, Maryam

Hedayati, Maryam


Degrees

Hunt, Ayse

Hunt, Ayse


Degrees

Hutchison-Kennen

Kennen Hutchison


Degrees

  • M.S. in Biomedical Reaearch
  • B.S. in Microbiology

Research Interests

Mis/Dis-information, adult cognition, acquisition of new knowledge

Jones, Stephanie

Jones, Stephanie


Degrees

Kelter-Jacob

Research Interests

Agent-based modeling for learning about and understanding complex systems. Creating socio-technical infrastructure for ongoing systemic change in education. Cognition at every level from neurons to societies.

Kshirsagar-Khushbu

Research Interests

Khushbu designs hands-on learning experiences at an intersection of engineering design, art and mathematics. She is particularly interested in building these experiences for informal public spaces such as museums, playgrounds and libraries. Her goal is to explore playful mediums of learning through mechanical movements, paper zines and puzzles, with the intention to take one away from the computer screen, and to enable accessibility in tinkering while learning.

LaGrassa-Nicholas

Nicholas LaGrassa


Degrees

  • BA, Philosophy
  • BS, Computer Science

Research Interests

Educational Equity & Learning Environment Design
Larison, Sarah

Larison, Sarah


Degrees

Lee, Sarah

Lee, Sarah


Degrees

Li-Yinmiao

Yinmiao Li


Degrees

  • Master of Educational Technology and Applied Learning Sciences
Logan, Charles

Logan, Charles


Degrees

  • Master of Arts in Educational Technology, Michigan State University, 2018
  • Master of Fine Arts, Fiction, Brooklyn College, 2012
  • Bachelor of Arts, English and Secondary Teacher Education, Middlebury College, 2006

Research Interests

My research interests include how educators and students develop and practice critical digital pedagogies and literacies; resist, refuse, and revise educational technology imaginaries; and design learning experiences to support educational dignity.

Lu, Kristine

Lu, Kristine


Degrees

  • B.A. in English & Comparative Literature, Columbia University, 2013

Research Interests

Information design, text and visual processing, and learning in digital news, media, and information environments; information and learning behaviors; cognition in data interactives; design thinking in digital and computational journalism

Marshall, Jessica

Marshall, Jessica

jmarshall@u.northwestern.edu


Degrees

  • BS in Sociology, Modified with Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Dartmouth College
  • MSEd in Special Education, City College of New York (CUNY)

Dissertation Title

Teaching Histories of Harm and Repair: Examining Teacher Perceptions and Approaches to District Mandated Curriculum on Police Violence and the Struggle for Justice in Chicago


Research Interests

Civics and Social Studies Education, Learning toward Justice and Transformation, Participatory research methods

Melo, Natalie

Melo, Natalie


Degrees

Kritphong-Mongkhonvanit

Kritphong Mongkhonvanit


Degrees

  • MA in Learning, Design and Technology, Stanford University
  • BS in Computer Science, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Research Interests

Computer science education, tangible user interfaces, and programming languages.
Moore-Shai

Moore, Shai

ShaiMoore@u.northwestern.edu


Degrees

  • BS Packaging Science
Munoz, Arturo

Munoz, Arturo


Degrees

  • BA, Educational Studies and Psychology, Tufts University, 2017
Nguyen, Vien

Nguyen, Vien


Degrees

  • Masters of Education, Temple University, 2016
  • Bachelors of Science in Mathematics, Stanford University, 2014

Research Interests

complex learning; distributed & embodied cognition; learning analytics; multi-modal data; social learning; 21st century skills; interest-driven learning.

Ovies-Bocanegra-Miguel-Angel

Miguel Angel Ovies-Bocanegra

movies@u.northwestern.edu


Degrees

  • Masters of Art Education - Educational Psychology
  • Masters of Public Administration - State and Local Government, Student Services in Higher Education
  • Bachelors of Arts - Physical Education and Human Development
  • Bachelors of Arts - History
 Papak, Alexis

Papak, Alexis


Degrees

Pei, Christina

Pei, Christina


Degrees

  • BA, Economics, University of Chicago, 2006

Research Interests

 I am interested in constructionist learning environments that provide equitable opportunities for STEM learning. In particular, how making practices in multiple cultural settings can be leveraged to design spaces and projects that represent and value diverse backgrounds. Additionally, I view mathematics as a (under-appreciated) culture of making, and am interested in designing and implementing math microworlds that support learners in their construction of math concepts.

Pomian Bogdanov, Katarzyna (Kasia)

Pomian Bogdanov, Katarzyna (Kasia)


Degrees

  • M.Ed., Secondary Education Physics, DePaul University, 2019
  • M.S., Physics, DePaul University, 2018
  • B.A., Spanish Language and Literature, Loyola University Chicago, 2016
  • B.S., Physics, Loyola University Chicago, 2016

Research Interests

I am interested in reimagining science education. In particular, I am interested in designing science high school curriculums that create equitable opportunities for all students to pursue science in ways that are authentic to individuals and the discipline. I am currently working with an Open Science Education design team consisting of teachers and designers. I am studying the tensions that arise during this process; particularly, tensions at the intersections of science education, gender, and race. 

I am also working on understating the roles of silliness in the classroom, specifically when silliness is used during on-task discourse within the classroom. 

In the past I have studied acoustical instruments, and how they can be used in the classroom to stimulate students’ interests and understanding of string theory. I have used Social Network Analysis to better understand interactions within science classrooms. I have also worked at Argonne National Laboratory on a team in pursuit of understanding dark energy through the study of Type 1A Supernovae.

Quiterio-Ashley

Ashley Quiterio


Degrees

  • BA, Data Science
 Reith, Alisa (Ally)

Reith, Alisa (Ally)


Degrees

  • BA, Bennington College, 2013
Russell, Leslie

Russell, Leslie


Degrees

Shrodes, Addie

Shrodes, Addie


On The Market


Degrees

  • MA, English Literature and Urban Humanities, University of California-Los Angeles, 2015
  • BA with Highest Distinction and Highest Honors, English Literature and Sociocultural Anthropology, University of Michigan, 2012

Research Interests

Everyday learning and identity development with digital media; language, literacy, and culture; critical literacies with digital technologies; sociocultural and sociopolitical theory; queer theory and queer of color critique; LGBTQ+ educational research with focus on intersectional justice
Smith, Michael

Smith, Michael


Degrees

Spikes, Michael

Spikes, Michael


Degrees

  • MS; Education Technology Systems Management, Stony Brook University, 2014
  • BA; Mass Media, University of the District of Columbia, 2011
  • AAS; Recording Arts and Technology, Cuyahoga Community College, 2004

Research Interests

News media literacy education and interventions; misinformation and cognition; enactment of evaluative mindsets when consuming information 

Topham-Taylor

Topham, Taylor

taylortopham@u.northwestern.edu


Degrees

  • MS in Sociology, Brigham Young University, 2022
  • BA in English, Brigham Young University, 2019
Tran-Caryn

Tran, Caryn

caryn.tran@u.northwestern.edu


Degrees

  • M.S. Computer Science
  • B.A. Computer Science from UC Berkeley

Research Interests

K-8 Computer Science Education, Collaborative Learning, Visual Programming Lanugages

 Tran, Dustin

Tran, Dustin


Degrees

Wallace-Adia

Adia Wallace


Degrees

  • EdM in Technology, Innovation, and Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education
  • BA in Philosophy from Xavier University of Louisiana
West, Melanie

West, Melanie


Degrees

  • MPS Interactive Telecommunications, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, 1995
  • BS Music & Electrical Engineering, Rutgers University, 1982
Winchester-Corey

Corey Winchester


Degrees

  • MA - Learning Sciences (2020), Northwestern University
  • MEd - Cultural and Educational Policy Studies (2013), Loyola University Chicago
  • BS - Education and Social Policy (2010), Northwestern University
Zhao-Lexie

Zhao, Lexie

xinyuezhao2020@u.northwestern.edu


Degrees

  • Master's in Integrated Marketing Communications at NU's Medill School of Journalism

Research Interests

I am interested in the intersection of playful learning, learner agency, and equitable participation. My research projects revolve around youth empowerment through learning communities, participatory museum exhibits, human-centered design, design-based research, and social emotional learning.