Heather Pon-Barry

Heather Pon-Barry is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Arizona State University (2013–2014) and as the Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor in Computer Science at Mount Holyoke College (2014 onward). Her research focuses on computational methods for analyzing speech acoustics and intonation to enhance speech recognition systems, with applications in human-robot interaction, human-computer interaction, and human-human interaction.

Education:

• PhD in Computer Science, Harvard University (2013)
• MS in Symbolic Systems, Stanford University (2004)
• BS in Symbolic Systems, Stanford University (2004)

Her work includes projects on spoken dialogue systems, intelligent tutoring systems, and the recognition of uncertainty in speech. She pioneered the MaGE program (Megas and Gigas Educate) at Mount Holyoke College, funded by a Google Computer Science Capacity Award (2015), which focuses on peer education and mentoring in computer science. She has received prestigious fellowships, including the NDSEG and NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, and was named a Siebel Scholar in 2013.

Grants & Programs:

• Google Computer Science Engagement Award (2015)
• Established MaGE program to promote computer science education through peer mentoring

Her research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, bridging computer science with human communication studies to improve adaptive speech interfaces and educational technologies.