Dr. Barbara Ericson

Biography

Barbara Ericson is an Associate Professor at the School of Information and in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. She earned her PhD in Human Centered Computing from Georgia Institute of Technology, where she was mentored by Dr. James Foley. Ericson holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Wayne State University. With experience in research labs including General Motors and Bell Communications, she has authored several texts on media computation and programming education. Her research interests encompass computing education, learning analytics, artificial intelligence, user experience, and developing interactive electronic books for introductory computing courses. She is particularly focused on adaptive learning strategies that utilize educational psychology principles to enhance student engagement and reduce frustration in learning environments. Additionally, Ericson is passionate about increasing diversity in computing through initiatives like Rise 4 CS, which supports underrepresented high school students in Advanced Placement Computer Science courses. She has received several honors for her contributions to education, including the Foley Scholar award and the ACM Karl V. Karlstrom Outstanding Educator Award.

Research Interests

Awards