Kelsey Dusenka is an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), teaching in the School of Design and the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII). Her practice bridges design education and professional work, emphasizing process-oriented methods and critical engagement with tools. She holds an MFA in 2D Design from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BFA in Graphic Design from Minneapolis College of Art. Her research interests focus on design systems, feminist publishing, and the intersection of art and technology. She has designed books for feminist voices through the imprint ultraterrestrial.xyz and works with small businesses and cultural clients on visual identities and web projects. Her studio work is held in collections like the Center for Book Arts (New York) and LACMA’s Special Collections Library. Previously, she served as Studio Manager at Flatten Image (2016–2019), a woman-owned fine art printing studio, and taught at institutions including Rhode Island School of Design and Virginia Commonwealth University. She has also contributed as a guest critic at multiple art and design schools.
Richard Scheines is a Professor and Dean at Carnegie Mellon University, with affiliations in the Machine Learning Department and the Human-Computer Interaction Institute. His research focuses on causal discovery, particularly through the TETRAD project, which develops algorithms for inferring causal structures from statistical data. He also explores educational technologies, including intelligent tutoring systems and virtual labs for causal reasoning. Scheines’ work bridges computer science, philosophy, and education, emphasizing practical applications of causal inference in biomedical research and policy analysis. His research interests include causal modeling, machine learning, and the development of interactive educational software. Scheines has collaborated extensively on projects like the CSR online courseware and the Center for Causal Discovery. His contributions span theoretical advancements in causal inference, empirical studies on learning strategies, and interdisciplinary applications in healthcare and public policy. Publications highlight his work on measurement error, multidimensional data analysis, and the integration of AI into education. He has also engaged in policy-related research, such as evaluating environmental risk assessment frameworks. Scheines’ academic leadership and innovative approaches to causal discovery and educational technology have positioned him as a key figure in computational and applied philosophy.
Jenny Han Lin is an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah's Kahlert School of Computing. Her research focuses on computational fabrication, particularly leveraging knot theory and low-level computer representations to advance textile manufacturing and real-world phenomenon modeling. She completed her PhD in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University under James McCann, preceded by a B.E. in Computer Science and Molecular Biology from MIT. Her work bridges computer graphics, robotics, and mathematics, with notable contributions to machine knitting compilers, braid group theory applications, and crochet representation. She has been a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Utah and taught courses at CMU and the University of Washington. Lin actively promotes textile fabrication through initiatives like Knitout Office Hours and served as SIGBOVIK organizing committee chair (2019-2022), creating an award-winning conference website. Lin's research has been recognized with a finalist award at ICRA 2021. She collaborates widely, mentoring students in interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of computing and physical fabrication.
Yang P. Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Member at the Institute for Advanced Study and earned his PhD from Stanford University under the supervision of Aaron Sidford. His research focuses on theoretical computer science and mathematics, emphasizing graph algorithms, optimization, high-dimensional geometry, and additive combinatorics. He has received notable awards including the A.W. Tucker Prize and Google PhD Fellowship, alongside multiple best paper recognitions at major conferences like FOCS, STOC, and ITCS. Education: PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University (2023); BS from MIT (2018). Research Interests: Graph Algorithms Optimization (especially convex and high-dimensional) Algorithmic Techniques in Additive Combinatorics Geometric and Structural Aspects of Computation Teaching: Currently instructing CS 15-759: A Principled Approach to Optimization (Spring 2025), covering topics like gradient descent, interior-point methods, and sparsification techniques. Course emphasizes rigorous mathematical foundations. Awards: Recognized for contributions to optimization theory and algorithmic complexity. His work bridges discrete mathematics and continuous optimization paradigms.
Yue Jiang is an incoming Assistant Professor at the University of Utah (Fall 2025) and is completing their PhD at Aalto University and the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI). Their research focuses on computational user interface understanding, eye tracking, and adaptive GUI layouts. They have held roles such as Accessibility Chair for CHI2023/2024 and have organized workshops on computational UI methodologies. Education : PhD in Intelligent Systems (Aalto University & FCAI, Finland) Visiting PhD Student (CMU's BIG Lab, 2024) Master's in Computer Graphics (UMD, USA) Bachelor's in Computer Science & Mathematics (U of Toronto, Canada) Research Interests : Developing human-centered technologies for adaptive UIs, eye tracking analysis, and AI-driven HCI. Key projects include Graph4GUI, EyeFormer, and computational methods for GUI layout optimization. Awards : Meta PhD Fellowship (2023-2025) Google Europe Students with Disabilities Scholarship (2022) CHI2022 Best Paper Honorable Mention Heidelberg Laureate Forum Young Researcher (2024) Service : PC Member for VL/HCC2025, CHI2026 Associate Chair for CHI2025/2026 Organized three Computational UI Workshops at CHI Labs & Collaborations : Collaborates with Prof. Jeffrey Bigham (CMU), Prof. Wolfgang Stuerzlinger (SFU), and Prof. Christof Lutteroth (U of Bath). Former internships at Apple AIML Lab and Adobe Research.
Mark Baskinger serves as Professor and Chair of Product Design at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design, where he also directs the Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion and the Moon Arts Group. His academic leadership extends across multiple interdisciplinary initiatives bridging design, technology, and cultural exploration. His educational background includes a PhD from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University), an MFA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois (UIUC), and a BFA in Graphic Design from Carnegie Mellon University. Baskinger's research focuses on tangible interaction design, deep time artifacts, durational design methodologies, and visual thinking processes. His work explores the intersection of physical and digital experiences, emphasizing inclusive design approaches that address universal needs while considering long-term cultural impacts. He investigates how visual communication and sketching processes enhance creative problem-solving and collaborative design practices. His scholarly output reveals a consistent trajectory exploring tangible interaction, inclusive design for aging populations, visual communication, and the relationship between physical form and computing. Early work focused on home appliance design for elderly users, while later publications expanded into game design, haptic interfaces, and the cultural implications of design artifacts intended to endure across centuries. 2010 Henry Hornbostel Teaching Award at Carnegie Mellon Recognized as 'Most Admired Industrial Design Educator' by Design Intelligence Journal Multiple design awards from ID Magazine and Industrial Designers Society of America (IDEA) Five U.S. design patents plus numerous associated patents Author of influential textbook 'Drawing Ideas' (2013), now in seventh printing Baskinger has conducted over 70 design workshops with Fortune 500 companies and industry conferences while maintaining significant academic collaborations across Carnegie Mellon's campus. He co-directed the MoonArk project, which became the primary cultural payload on Astrobotic Technology's lunar lander mission, uniting 11 campus units, 18 organizations, and over 300 international collaborators. His work with the Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research Center demonstrates his commitment to applying design principles to improve everyday experiences. As a fellow in The Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry, Baskinger leads the Moon Arts Group, continuing the legacy of the MoonArk through deep time cultural artifact projects. His collaborations span the Tepper School of Business, Disney Research, Robotics Institute, Human-Computer Interaction Institute, and international partners like TU/e in the Netherlands.
Victoria Crowley (Vicki) is an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design, where she teaches Communication Design and Information Design to non-majors pursuing concentrations in Media Design or Innovation & Entrepreneurship through the Integrative Design, Arts, and Technology department (IDeATe). With a 20-year design career, she earned a degree from CMU's School of Design and interned with Richard Saul Wurman, founder of TED Conferences. Her professional work includes print design, environmental graphics, and information design for Pittsburgh institutions like The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Current roles: Adjunct Professor at CMU, independent design consultant for CMU's School of Computer Science and School of Drama Advisory roles: Member of Penn State's Stuckeman Advisory Board, Board Trustee at Shady Lane School Professional leadership: Past president of AIGA Pittsburgh chapter Her research and practice focus on bridging functional design with community-building initiatives, reflecting her expertise in visual problem-solving across cultural and educational contexts.
Takeo Kanade is the U.A. and Helen Whitaker University Professor of Robotics and Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). He serves as director of the Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research Center and previously led the Robotics Institute (1992-2001). His work spans computer vision, robotics, and multimedia technology, emphasizing mathematical modeling of vision processes and system development. Education: Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering from Kyoto University (1974) Kanade's research focuses on foundational computer vision (factorization methods, multi-baseline stereo, facial recognition), virtualized reality systems for immersive media applications, and robotics innovations in medical surgery (HipNav) and autonomous helicopters. He pioneered computational sensors integrating VLSI technology. Recent publications emphasize 3D vision, pose estimation, and real-time facial alignment, reflecting his work in social motion capture and scene-specific object recognition. His projects include Informedia (NSF/ARPA/NASA-funded digital video libraries) and EyeVision for immersive sports broadcasting. Scientific Awards: Kyoto Prize (2016), Benjamin Franklin Medal, Bower Prize, IEEE Pioneer Award, ACM/AAAI Allen Newell Award, Joseph Engelberger Award He advises past PhD and Master's students like Omead Amidi, Vladimir Brajovic, and Richard LaBarca. He founded the Digital Human Research Center and leads the Human Sensing Lab at CMU.
