Human Centered Design & Engineering

Outstanding Alumni Award: Dr. Natasha Jones

The Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering is proud to recognize Natasha N. Jones (PhD ‘12), associate professor in Michigan State University’s Department of African American and African Studies, as the inaugural recipient of the HCDE Outstanding Alumni Award.

HCDE Team Shines in IBM Challenge

A team of HCDE master’s students has earned second place in the IBM Challenge as part of the 2025 Student Service Design Challenge, an international competition inviting students to design services that advance equality and inclusivity. Their project, Echo, addresses a growing need for transparency and ethical communication around the use of AI in speech-language pathology.

CSCW 2025 Recognition

HCDE faculty and students participated in CSCW 2025, the premier international conference on technologies that support collaboration and social interaction, held October 18–22 in Bergen, Norway. Their participation through papers, workshops, and service reflects the department’s active role in advancing research on how people work, learn, and connect through technology.

How to Engage with HCDE This Year

From mentoring and guest speaking to sponsoring student projects, HCDE alumni and industry partners have many ways to stay connected while making a lasting impact this year.