Allison Sauppe

Allison Sauppe is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science & Computer Engineering department at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.S. from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and making CS education accessible to non-traditional groups. She has contributed to projects like Figaro (a tabletop HRI authoring tool) and explored social implications of robots in manufacturing.

• Education: Ph.D. 2015 (UW-Madison), M.S. 2011 (UW-Madison), B.S. 2009 (Rose-Hulman)

Research interests include collaborative robotics, HRI design tools, and K-12 CS education. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches combining CS, psychology, and design. Notable achievements include a Best of CHI award for her 2015 paper on robot co-workers.

• Awards: Best of CHI award (2015)

Teaching experience spans undergraduate courses like Introduction to HCI and outreach programs such as Grandparents University. She advises MSE capstone projects and collaborates on initiatives like rural K-12 CS professional learning communities. Active in the HCI Lab at UW-Madison during her Ph.D., her work bridges theory and practical applications in human-robot collaboration.