Dr. Yasmine Kotturi
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Department of Information Systems
College of Engineering and Information Technology
She/Her/Hers/Herself
About
Yasmine Kotturi is an Assistant Professor of Human-Centered Computing at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), with an affiliate appointment in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University. Her research examines how communities—especially those historically marginalized in technology design—navigate, adapt, and reshape emerging AI systems in work, education, and civic life. She combines participatory design, ethnographic methods, and system-building to create more equitable sociotechnical futures. At UMBC, she teaches courses on ethical AI, design methods, and technology in society, supporting students in developing both technical skills and critical reflection.Research interests
My research explores human-centered artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on how emerging technologies reshape work, learning, and civic life. I use participatory, qualitative, and design-based methods to examine how people—particularly those from historically marginalized communities—navigate and adapt to AI systems in contexts such as entrepreneurship, education, and public policy. I also build and evaluate AI-powered tools that support community-driven goals, emphasizing equitable design, digital literacy, and long-term resilience. My current projects include developing generative AI systems for small business owners and co-designing AI policy and pedagogical frameworks with students.Teaching interests
My teaching centers on human-centered computing, with an emphasis on ethical AI, participatory design, and the social implications of emerging technologies. I strive to create classrooms where students engage critically with the systems they build and use, and where diverse lived experiences are valued as technical insight. I incorporate project-based learning, collaborative critique, and real-world case studies to help students develop both technical fluency and reflective practice. Recent courses I’ve taught include design methods, AI literacy, and a graduate studio where students co-designed generative AI policies for the classroom.Education
- Ph D, Human-Computer Interaction — Carnegie Mellon University (2022)
- MS, Human-Computer Interaction — Carnegie Mellon University (2020)
- BS, Cognitive Science — University of California, San Diego (2014)