معرفی
Dr. Lucretia Williams serves as a Senior Research Scientist at Howard University's College of Engineering and Architecture within the Human-Centered AI Institute. She directs the Lab for Advancing Technology for Education, Health, and New Ventures in AI (ATHENA), where she leads interdisciplinary research focused on human-computer interaction, human-centered AI, and health technology. Her work specifically centers on the lived experiences of underrepresented communities, exploring how emerging technologies can better serve populations initially not considered in their design.
Dr. Williams received her PhD and Masters in Informatics from the University of California, Irvine, where she was affiliated with the STAR Lab, UCI ANTrepreneur Center, and DECADE. She completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology at Howard University. Her expertise spans human-computer interaction, community-based research, participatory design, health technology, and artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on culturally responsive approaches.
Her research portfolio demonstrates consistent focus on developing technology solutions for mental health, education, and community empowerment, with significant work in South African contexts and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She has developed several notable tools including Mazi Umntanakho, a digital assessment tool for child social-emotional development in low-resource settings, and has led large-scale projects like the AAVE data collection at HBCUs. Her publications appear regularly in top-tier HCI and AI venues, showing strong interdisciplinary collaboration across computer science, psychology, and public health domains.
Dr. Williams has received recognition including the Aim-Ahead Fellowship and has demonstrated entrepreneurial experience with over a decade in tech startups and innovation. She teaches CSCI 652: Special Topics in Human-Computer Interaction, guiding students through the theoretical and practical aspects of designing technology that serves diverse human needs.
Her ATHENA Lab serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research, bringing together computer scientists, psychologists, educators, and community partners to develop technology solutions that address real-world challenges while centering community voices and cultural contexts. Dr. Williams frequently collaborates with international partners, particularly in South Africa, where her work addresses mental health challenges in low-income settings through co-designed digital tools.
