Jessica Swenson

Jessica Swenson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education at the University at Buffalo's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Her work focuses on engineering education methodologies, particularly in undergraduate conceptual knowledge development, Learning Assistant programs, and fostering inclusive environments for women and multilingual learners in engineering. She holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University (2018), an MS in STEM Education, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University (2010).

Education:

• PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University, 2018
• MS, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education, Tufts University, 2013
• BS, Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2010

Research Interests: Jessica explores engineering design processes, epistemological framing in student learning, and how affect and identity influence academic trajectories. Her work emphasizes equitable pedagogies for multilingual learners, team dynamics in design projects, and the role of power structures in stakeholder interactions. She investigates how open-ended problems and scaffolding techniques impact problem-solving skills and engineering judgment development.

Key Themes in Publications: Recent work highlights the interplay between affect and identity in first-year engineering students, strategies for multilingual learners in K-12 settings, and the role of team accomplishment in fostering belongingness. She also examines how flexible classroom spaces and maker environments influence student engagement and identity formation.

Awards & Grants: No awards explicitly listed. Current research initiatives focus on NSF-funded projects related to engineering education equity and pedagogical innovation.

Labs & Teams: Engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations with aviation museums and pre-service teacher networks to develop authentic engineering assessments and inclusive curriculum designs.