Assistant Professor of Practice
School of Applied and Creative Computing
Purdue University
I am an Assistant Professor of Practice at Purdue University specializing in interactive data visualization and web-based analytical systems. My work integrates visualization research, studio-based pedagogy, and AI-informed design practices. I mentor student teams on competition-level visual analytics projects and develop curriculum focused on critical reasoning and ethical visualization in the age of generative AI.
Melody Way visualizes influence and genre evolution over time using coordinated views and expressive interaction design. The project demonstrates how analytical rigor and visual storytelling can coexist, making complex, high-dimensional data both interpretable and engaging.
Proceedings of the IEEE Visual Analytics Science and Technology (VAST) Challenge
BlossomNet introduces a floral glyph system to represent multivariate network behavior in collaborative analytic workflows. The design contribution combines aesthetic encoding and structural clarity to support pattern discovery and comparative reasoning.
Proceedings of the IEEE Visual Analytics Science and Technology (VAST) Challenge
This work investigates interactive techniques for tracking spread, influence, and intervention timing in ecological datasets. It translates complex temporal and geospatial signals into interpretable visual forms for decision support and educational use.
Proceedings of the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS)
My research explores interactive systems for understanding influence, collaboration, and temporal evolution in complex datasets. Current directions include explainable AI visualization, knowledge graph analytics, and structured scaffolding approaches in visualization education.
My teaching philosophy emphasizes structured scaffolding, critique-driven development, and ethical design practice. Across introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses, I guide students from foundational principles to research-informed interactive systems design, integrating responsible AI use and real-world application contexts.
Melody Way and BlossomNet were developed with student teams in competition-level settings, emphasizing analytical rigor, design clarity, and iterative critique. Student contributions were recognized through award-winning outcomes and conference visibility.
This project supported community-oriented collaboration through data-informed communication tools that connected stakeholder priorities with actionable insights.
Mentorship integrates undergraduate researchers into publication and studio pipelines, including direct project advising for students such as Sophia, when appropriate to project scope and authorship.