Research Fellows
Dr. Dragan Gasevic, Research Scientist
Dr. Gasevic is a Professor and the Canada Research Chair in Semantic and Learning Technologies in the School of Computing and Information Systems at Athabasca University. Dragan is a co-founder and the current President-Elect of the Society for Learning Analytics Research. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University, Associate Adjunct Professor in the Learning and Teaching Unit at the University of South Australia, and an IBM CAS Faculty Fellow. A computer scientist by training and skill, Dragan considers himself a learning and information scientist developing computational methods that can shape next-generation learning and software technologies and advance our understanding of information-seeking, sense-making, self-regulated and social learning. The award-winning work of his team on the LOCO-Analytics software is considered one of the pioneering contributions in the growing area of learning analytics.
Dr. Shane Dawson, Research Scientist
Associate Professor Shane Dawson is the Director of the Learning and Teaching Unit, and Associate Professor of Technology Enhanced Learning at the University of South Australia. His research activities focus on learning analytics and social networks to inform teaching and learning theory and practice. Shane’s research has demonstrated the use of learner interaction and network data to provide lead indicators of self-regulated learning, student sense of community, academic success and course satisfaction. Shane has also been involved in developing pedagogical models designed to build student creative capacity. He is a co-founder and executive member of the Society for Learning Analytics Research and was co-chair of the 2012 Learning Analytics and Knowledge conference in Vancouver, Canada.
Dr. Abelardo Pardo, Research Scientist
Dr. Pardo is the Associate Head of Teaching and Learning and a Senior Lecturer at the School of Electrical and Information Engineering, at the University of Sydney. He has a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is the director of the Learning and Affect Technologies Engineering Laboratory, specialized in the design of adaptive and personalized software systems for learning. His areas of research are learning analytics, software tools for collaboration and personalized learning processes, and software systems to improve teaching practice and student outcomes. He has participated in national and international projects funded by the Office for Teaching and Learning (Australia), the National Science Foundation (USA), and the European Union. He serves as member of the editorial boards of the IEEE Transactions on Learning Technology and the Journal of Social Media and Interactive Learning Environments. He is also member of the executive board of the Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR).
Dr. Taryn G. Allen
Dr. Allen is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. She earned her doctorate in higher education administration, with a concentration in Mexican American Studies, from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Allen’s research interests focus on the educational experiences of Latino students as they access, transition, and persist in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), particularly Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). She is a Faculty Research Affiliate with the Center for MSIs at The University of Pennsylvania and Project Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success (MALES) at The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Holly Hungerford-Kresser
Dr. Hungerford-Kresser is an Associate Professor of English education and literacy studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. She earned her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in literacy studies. Her research focuses primarily on college and career readiness, with two primary angles—first generation college students and pre-service teacher education. Recent projects include research partnerships with non-profits and universities, centered on teacher education and college ready classrooms. She will continue this work in the fall as a fellow with the Greater Texas Foundation.
Dr. Maria Martinez-Cosio
Dr. Martinez-Cosio is an associate professor at the School of Urban and Public Affairs and Assistant Vice-Provost for Faculty Development at UT Arlington. She earned her doctorate in sociology at the University of California, San Diego. Her research interests span several disciplines including education, planning and sociology. Her book, co-authored with Dr. Mirle Bussell from UC San Diego, Catalysts for Change:21st Century Foundations and Community Development (Routledge, 2013) was recently awarded the “Current Research Award” by the Community Development Society at its annual meeting in July 2014.