Ann Fruhling

Ann Fruhling is a Distinguished Professor in the College of Information Science & Technology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she serves as the founding Director of the School of Interdisciplinary Informatics and Chair of the Ph.D. in Computing and Information Science program. She is also co-Director of the Nebraska University Center for Biomedical Informatics Research and Innovation and Director of the Consortium for Public Informatics (CPHI).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Management Information Systems, Strategy, Marketing, Computer Science, and Human-Computer Interaction – University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2003
• MBA – University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1991
• BS in Computer Information Systems – Colorado State University, 1983

Dr. Fruhling's research centers on human-computer interaction, usability, health and biomedical informatics, and agile system development. Her work emphasizes designing and evaluating information systems for high-stakes environments, particularly emergency response and public health laboratories. She is the Principal Investigator of STATPack™, a widely deployed bioterrorism surveillance system.

Her recent publications reflect a strong focus on usability in health IT, emergency informatics, agile methodologies, and public health system design. The research spans disciplines including information systems, cognitive science, software engineering, and public policy, with recurring themes of user-centered design, system reliability, and real-world implementation challenges.

Scientific Awards:

• Charles W. and Margre H. Durham Distinguished Professor (2017)
• UNO Graduation Marshal (2016)
• Mutual of Omaha Distinguished Professor (2011)
• Nebraska Navy Admiral Award (2006)

Dr. Fruhling has secured over $8.5 million in research funding across more than 100 projects, supporting the training and development of over 85 students. She advises doctoral students in the CIS Ph.D. program and leads collaborative research initiatives through CPHI and the Biomedical Informatics Center. Her teaching portfolio includes Human-Computer Interaction, Health Informatics, Agile Development, and MIS Capstone courses.

She leads the STATPack™ research lab in PKI 363 and collaborates with public health laboratories across the Midwest. Her team focuses on developing, evaluating, and deploying informatics solutions for emergency preparedness and response.