Robin N. Brewer

Robin N. Brewer is an Associate Professor of Information at the School of Information (UMSI), University of Michigan. Her research focuses on accessibility, aging, and AI ethics, with a particular emphasis on supporting older adults and individuals with disabilities through inclusive technology design. She co-founded the Accessibility, HCI, and Aging (AHA!) lab, and holds affiliate positions in the Center for Ethics, Society, and Computing (ESC), the Digital Studies Institute, and the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation (IHPI). Her work is supported by grants from NSF, NIH, Google, and others.

Education:

• B.S. in Computer Science, University of Maryland
• M.S. in Human-Centered Computing, UMBC
• Ph.D. in Technology and Social Behavior, Northwestern University
• Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of Michigan (President's Postdoctoral Fellowship)

Research Interests:

Dr. Brewer's work bridges accessibility, disability studies, and human-computer interaction. She designs systems to address challenges faced by older adults and disabled communities, including studies on voice assistants, AI ethics, and care coordination. Recent projects explore accessible conversational AI, mitigating information uncertainty in voice technologies, and inclusive design practices for aging populations.

Notable Awards:

• Brilliant 10 List (Popular Science, 2023)
• Anita Borg Early Career Award (2023)
• Henry Russell Award (2025)

Grants & Collaborations:

Her research has been funded by NSF CAREER, NIH, Google, and the Retirement Research Foundation. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams across computer science, art design, and healthcare to advance equitable digital solutions.

Labs & Teams:

• AHA! Lab (cross-disciplinary aging/accessibility research)
• C-CI Lab (Community-Computer Interaction)