Dr. Michael Ann DeVito, Lab Director
Michael Ann DeVito is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Communication Studies at Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences and College of Arts, Media and Design. She is an interdisciplinary social/behavioral scientist who is deeply invested in improving the social technology systems that have become key parts of our day to day lives. Michael Ann most often acts as a member-researcher, embracing her identity as a transgender woman, lesbian, and neurodivergent person in her research. Michael Ann holds a Ph.D. in Media, Technology, and Society from Northwestern University. She is based on Northeastern’s Boston campus.
Erika Melder, PhD Student
Erika Melder is a second-year PhD student at Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences, advised by Dr. DeVito. Their interests lie in how information and communication is controlled on the Internet, and how marginalized people are able to form communities via social steganography. They are also interested in how a social platform’s structure and design shapes the emergent communication norms and community models formed on it. Erika is a nonbinary, mixed-race, second-generation immigrant, and their background of existing in the gaps between separate communities informs their perspective. Prior to arriving at Northeastern, Erika earned their M.S. studying computational complexity theory at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Lauryn Fluellen, Master’s Apprentice
Lauryn Fluellen, a graduate student at Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences, is dedicated to creating equitable and accessible technology through research and enhanced implementation. Lauryn has held various research positions at the university, delving into ethics in computer science, enhancing speech models for marginalized groups, and currently exploring Folk Models of Mutual Aid for At-Risk Populations. As a black queer individual in tech, their unique background and experiences profoundly influence their work. Before joining Northeastern, Lauryn earned her B.S. in Linguistics and B.A. in Brain and Cognitive Science at the University of Rochester.