Susan Finger

Susan Finger is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), affiliated with Carnegie Mellon Architecture and the Integrative Design, Arts and Technology Network (IDeATe). She serves as Associate Dean for IDeATe and holds affiliations with the Robotics Institute, Mechanical Engineering, and the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES). Her research explores collaborative learning dynamics in engineering education, focusing on how social interactions influence project outcomes and design processes.

• Education: B.A. Astronomy (University of Pennsylvania), M.A. Operations Research (University of Pennsylvania), Ph.D. Electric Power Systems (MIT)
• Professional Roles: Former NSF Program Director, Co-Founder/Editor-in-Chief of Research in Engineering Design

Research interests span design representation, integration of design/manufacturing, and computer-supported cooperative learning. Key contributions include frameworks for analyzing team collaboration through document/message exchanges and advocating for technology/culture intersections in education.

Publications reflect a focus on engineering pedagogy and design theory, with recent work addressing STEM education initiatives and assessment methodologies for collaborative learning environments.