We are delighted to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. LouAnne Boyd, who has recently been awarded tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Computer Science for the Fowler School of Engineering (FSE).

“We are all excited for Dr. Boyd whose teaching and research has a tremendous impact on our students,” shared Interim Dean Dr. Thomas Piechota. “Dr. Boyd’s tenure and promotion represents an important milestone for the over 5-year-old Fowler School of Engineering as the first new faculty member to obtain tenure.”

Headshot courtesy of Dr. Boyd

Boyd’s research interests center around the design, development, and evaluation of novel technologies to celebrate neurodiversity. Her current projects investigate new interaction designs across two design frameworks she created. The first framework is outlined in her book, Sensory Accommodation Framework for Technology: Bridging Sensory Sensitivities to Social Cognition. It is based on neuroscience theories to accommodate sensory impairments by designing technologies to increase the accessibility of information and social connection for people with autism, ADHD, social anxiety, and dyslexia. The second is the celebratory technology for neurodiversity paradigm, which extends beyond awareness of neurodivergence accommodation, acceptance, advocacy, and ultimately, appreciation of a span of neurodiversity.

“By championing the paradigm of celebratory technology for neurodiversity, I aspire to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society where the diverse strengths and perspectives of all individuals are recognized, celebrated, and empowered through technology,” stated Boyd.

In 1991, Boyd received her B.A. in Psychology from Washington University in Saint Louis, and continued her studies at Towson University to receive her masters in 1996. Boyd then furthered her education and earned her Ph.D. in Informatics from the University of California, Irvine, in 2018, under the mentorship of Professor Gillian Hayes.

Boyd joined the FSE community shortly thereafter in 2018, teaching Human-Computer Interaction, Computer-Supported Cooperative-Work, Human Factors, and Software Requirements courses. 

Boyd and members of her lab team (Daniel Dinh, Paige Caskey, Evelyn Lawrie, and Cyrus Faamafoe) share their research findings at the Student Scholar Symposium.

“Dr. Boyd is a wonderful role model,” expressed Sarah Fieck (‘25, MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), who has worked closely with Dr. Boyd in her lab throughout the past year. “Through taking her CSCW classes and working on research with her, she has shown me and my peers the importance of rooting technology in accessibility and equity. Her compassion and curiosity inspires me to help others through technical innovation. Congratulations to her for the promotion!”

In Boyd’s lab, her research alongside students centers on assistive, accessible, inclusive, and celebratory technology for neurodiversity. This involves (but is not limited to) building and evaluating technologies to work around challenges due to sensory and perceptual differences and addressing the public’s social stigma related to neurodivergence.

“This has been the most significant promotion of my life,” said Boyd. “It’s been the biggest challenge of striving for excellence in teaching, writing, and service while being critiqued by the upper administration at Chapman and international scholars in my field. Going up as the first Associate Professor in Fowler with a DEI background is a very vulnerable place to be. So, it is with tremendous relief and joy for the future that I reflect on the importance of this moment. It’s been so wonderful to have colleagues from around the campus congratulate me and recognize this achievement as well.”

Those interested in learning more about Boyd’s pre-existing work or following her future academic/research endeavors are encouraged to check out the Chapman University Digital Commons, her official Chapman faculty profile, or this blog post.