Jennifer Olson

Jennifer Olson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Media & Information at the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Michigan State University, specializing in geospatial research and technology development for international contexts, particularly across Africa.

Her research focuses on:

• Climate change and land use impacts on landscapes and societies
• Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICTD) using computers, GIS, and mobile platforms
• Human Centered Design co-creation with communities for agricultural and health applications

With fieldwork spanning Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia, she leads initiatives like the "Designing Technology Solutions for Schools in Tanzania" education abroad program and mHealth projects supporting youth with Type 1 Diabetes. Her work integrates Peace Corps and UN volunteer experience with academic rigor to address real-world challenges through user-driven technological innovation.

Dr. Olson mentors ComArtSci students in research presented at events like Mid-SURE 2017, securing grants for projects including rugged computing solutions for African schools and climate adaptation tools for farmers. Her collaborative approach emphasizes community partnership in technology design across agricultural and health domains.