Kayla DesPortes

Kayla DesPortes is an assistant professor in Human-Computer Interaction and Learning Sciences at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University and a PhD in Human-Centered Computing from Georgia Institute of Technology. Kayla’s research focuses on empowering groups traditionally marginalized by technology through computational education. She designs arts-based computing learning environments and technologies to support learners in integrating their culture and values into personal, expressive designs. Her research areas span computer science, data science, dance, poetry, and social activism. Her work engages educators, learners, artists, and community organizations to drive educational change by combining social justice and technology.

She leads multiple NSF-funded projects exploring how learning sciences and equity-oriented design can be applied to arts-based computing and data literacy education. Her research offers new perspectives on the integration of computing education with social equity and advances innovation and applications in relevant technologies.

• 2018–Present·New York University·Assistant Professor
  • Focused on Human-Computer Interaction and Learning Sciences; studying the intersection of computational education and social justice; developing arts-based computing learning environments.
• 2014–2015·Adobe Systems Incorporated·Research Intern
  • Conducted research in the Creative Technology Lab, exploring the design and development of creative tools.
• 2013–2018·Georgia Institute of Technology·Research Assistant
  • Conducted extensive research in Human-Centered Computing as part of various academic projects.
• 2010–2013·Intel Corporation·Component Design Engineer
  • Responsible for hardware design and development, gaining deep engineering experience.

• 2013–2018·Georgia Institute of Technology·PhD
  • Field: Human-Centered Computing
• 2006–2010·Cornell University·Bachelor's (BSc)
  • Field: Electrical and Computer Engineering