Rebecca Black

Professor Rebecca Black is a faculty member in the Department of Informatics at the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine. Her research focuses on leveraging information technology (IT) to enhance educational outcomes and social development, particularly for marginalized youth. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (2006), an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts-Boston (2002), and a B.A. in English and Spanish from Stetson University (1998).

Black’s work spans IT-based interventions for academic literacy, online learning spaces for self-expression, and the societal impact of digital media. She has pioneered projects such as peer review systems for academic writing and explored the role of online fan communities in fostering critical literacy. Her research also addresses disparities in technology access, including support for homeless and parenting youth, and examines gender stereotypes in toys and media.

Her awards include the 2020 and 2021 Dean’s Honoree for Undergraduate Teaching from the Bren School. Black collaborates across disciplines, including with educators and humanists, and leads grants like the Department of Education-funded project on cognitive strategies for literacy development. Her teaching emphasizes playful learning and has adapted successfully to online formats during the pandemic.