About Us

Jakita O. Thomas is a Philpott Westpoint Stevens Associate Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. Dr. Thomas is also Director of the CUltuRally & SOcially Relevent (CURSOR) Computing Lab. Her research interests include exploring the development of computational algorithmic thinking, Intersectional Computing promoting access to healthcare information and services for under-served populations, improving reasoning using expert cases, scientific reasoning, complex cognitive skills learning, and computer-supported collaborative learning. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer & Information Science from Spelman College and a Ph.D. in Computer Science with a specialization in the Learning Sciences and Technology from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She was only the 2nd Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Georgia Tech and the first in Learning Sciences and Technology. During her matriculation, she was a Presidential Fellow, National Physical Science Consortium Fellow, tutor, mentor, and Research Assistant.

Dr. Yolanda A. Rankin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Emory University. A recipient of the NSF Early Career Award, Dr. Rankin’s research interests include applying Black feminist epistemologies as critical frameworks for designing technology with marginalized populations and developing intersectional methods for broadening participation in K-16 computing education. In addition, she is a McKnight Fellow and a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, having published more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, including journal articles and conference papers presented at top tier ACM and IEEE conferences. Prior to academia, she accumulated more than fifteen years of industry experience while employed at IBM Research Lab – Almaden in San Jose, CA and Lucent Technologies Bell Labs in Naperville, IL. Dr. Rankin completed her Ph.D. in Computer Science at Northwestern University, her M.A. in Computer Science at Kent State University, and her B.S. in Mathematics at Tougaloo College, a historically Black liberal arts college in Jackson, Mississippi.

Dr. Sheena Erete is an associate professor in the College of Information at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she is the founder and director of the Community Research and Design Collective. The goal of her research is to co-design sustainable technologies, practices, and policies with community organizations that aim to counter structural oppression. She uses equity-centered, justice-oriented, assets-based approaches to research and design. Dr. Erete recently completed a visiting researcher position with Google Research. She received her Ph.D. from the Technology and Social Behavior program at Northwestern University, which is a joint degree in Computer Science and Communication. She holds a Masters in Computer Science focusing on Human Computer Interaction from the College of Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology. Before attending Georgia Tech, she received two Bachelors of Science degrees from Spelman College in Computer Science and Mathematics. Prior to returning for her Ph.D., she was an User Experience Engineer at IBM.

Dr. Jessa Dickinson received her Ph.D. In human-centered design and M.S. in human-computer interaction from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. Dr. Sheena Erete was her advisor, and they couldn’t bear to stop working together so they created IDC with Drs. Yolanda Rankin and Jakita Thomas. She co-designs social, political, and technical systems with communities that enable collaboration and build local power. Her dissertation offers community perspectives on how to resist harmful power structures in research while advancing community-defined goals. Her recent work includes community-initiated, multi-year collaborations supporting community-led violence prevention and building opportunities for young people in communities impacted by disinvestment. As a white woman working with predominantly Black and brown communities, she grounds her work in Black Feminist Thought and takes an assets-based approach that centers community expertise and priorities.

Intersectional Design Collective (IDC), LLC