By Kai Lukoff, HCDE PhD candidate
At a reunion of students from the Intentional Traces Collective, the research lab led by HCDE Associate Professor Sean Munson.
May 2022
I attended the CHI Conference on human-computer interaction in New Orleans for the 6th and final time as a PhD student. At my first CHI in Denver in 2017 I knew virtually no one, whereas this year it was hard not to get snagged in the hallway by an acquaintance while I was on my way to an event. It was a powerful experience to again attend in-person this conference that has become the community that is now my academic home: CHI has provided me with ideas, connections, and a community for growing my career.
One memorable occasion was a reunion of students from the Intentional Traces Collective, the research lab led by HCDE Associate Professor Sean Munson. Over the deep-fried and sugar-coated beignets at Cafe du Monde, current and former students bonded and shared their experiences in the lab. Several of those former students--Daniel Epstein, Elena Agapie, and Christina Chung--have gone on to faculty roles and brought along their students as well. As I transition into a role as an Assistant Professor myself next year, attending the CHI Conference never fails to introduce me to new friends and collaborators and reconnect me with existing ones.
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The Mary B. Coney Endowed Fund, named in honor of Emeritus Professor Mary Coney, supports HCDE students by funding costs associated with travel to conferences and international workshops. Your support of this fund enriches the HCDE student experience and enhances HCDE's influence in the field.