The Fowler School of Engineering (FSE) is proud to share that Dr. Franceli Cibrian has officially been recognized as a Senior Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Dr. Cibrian has been a proud member of ACM since before her professorship at Chapman University. ACM is one of the world’s largest professional societies for computing, and strives to raise awareness of computing’s technical, educational, and social issues.

“Receiving ACM Senior Member recognition is deeply meaningful to me because it affirms my identity and contributions as a computer scientist,” Dr. Franceli said. “Being recognized by ACM reinforces that human-centered computing is rigorous computer science and validates that this work belongs squarely within the CS and engineering communities.”

Progressing to Senior Membership

The Senior Members Grade recognizes ACM members who have held at least 10 years of professional experience, at least 5 years of Professional Membership in the last 10 years, and demonstrated performance through “technical leadership, and technical or professional contributions,” according to the ACM Senior Member Grade requirements. 

Additionally, the recognition is nomination-based, relying not only on the individual’s research contributions but also on the collective support from their colleagues.

“On a personal level, ACM has been part of my journey since my undergraduate years in Computer Systems Engineering,” Dr. Cibrian said. “After all this time, this recognition resonates because I chose to focus on what I consider one of the hardest problems in computing: how humans interact with systems, how technology shapes behavior and opportunity, and how we can design technologies that are effective, ethical, and adoptable in the real world.”

Commitment to Human-Centered Computing Research

As a mentor, faculty member, and researcher, Dr. Franceli has led multiple initiatives to improve and evaluate interactive technology, specifically geared toward supporting child development. Dr. Franceli explained her enthusiasm for how this recognition relates to her current career at Chapman.

“This recognition is especially meaningful at a primarily undergraduate institution, where building a strong research pipeline requires intensive mentorship and hands-on training,” Dr. Cibrian said.

Dr. Cibrian also noted that this membership would not have been possible without FSE’s support, specifically mentioning their strong commitment to delivering quality research.

“I’m grateful to the Fowler School of Engineering and Chapman University for supporting a culture where teaching, research, and mentorship reinforce each other, and where impactful, human-centered computing is valued and celebrated,” Dr. Franceli said. “I’m proud that students in my lab contribute across the full research lifecycle and gain experiences that shape their confidence and future careers.”

Dr. Franceli Cibrian with research students.

Dr. Cibrian with her student researchers at the Student Scholar Symposium.

The Core Values of Teaching Human-Computer Interaction

Previously, Dr. Franceli has been awarded grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance research in Human-Computer Interaction. Her NSF-supported projects include developing innovative methods to assess hyperactivity-related behavior, designing technologies that support  STEM learning for the visually impaired, with Dr. Etezad, as well as integrating responsible AI practices in undergraduate engineering education alongside Dr. Yuxin Wen.

Dr. Cibrian’s work has also been published outside of Chapman University, appearing in top-tier publications in her field, including Frontiers in Computer Science, TACCESS, IMWUT, and the Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. She also participated in the 2024 Fellowship at the Sesame Workshop, Design for Well-Being, and was featured on Verizon News for her research on how smartwatches help parents teach emotional regulation.

At the center of her research, Dr. Franceli strives to bring her values and resources from ACM to her lessons to students. “This recognition validates my ability to bring professional research perspectives into the classroom and to help students see why a human perspective belongs at the center of engineering and computer science problems,” Dr. Franceli said.

Dr. Cibrian further explains her commitment to teaching students to be well-versed not just in technical skills but also in leadership development.

“Having been part of ACM for more than 10 years, I’m familiar with the broad literature and resources ACM offers that I use as a part of my courses, to teach state of the art knowledge, and at the same time, bring values that are important such as the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, so students learn not only how to build cutting-edge technologies but also how to build them thoughtfully, responsibly, and with real human outcomes in mind,” she said. 

Looking Towards the Future with ACM

After obtaining Senior Grade membership, Dr. Franceli hopes to use ACM’s resources in helping the Chapman research community, such as by increasing opportunities for undergraduate students. She also highlights the importance of core requirements within Chapman’s engineering curriculum, which focus on the non-technical aspects and skills of engineering.

“I hope to use this recognition to expand student-driven research opportunities at Chapman and strengthen collaborations that allow our work to translate into real-world deployments in schools, clinics, and communities,” Dr. Cibrian said. “I also want to continue advocating within CS and engineering that usability, accessibility, and ethics are not ‘extras,’ but core technical requirements, especially as we design AI-driven systems that affect people’s lives.”

In other aspects of this award, Dr. Cibrian aspires to instill confidence and courage in her students, especially those navigating their own computing journeys. 

“I hope this milestone serves as a visible reminder to students who may wonder whether they belong in computing that there are many valid paths to becoming a computer scientist and engineer, and that they can succeed, lead, and make a meaningful impact.”

Learn more about Dr. Cibrian’s recent contributions and ongoing research projects. Visit the Chapman Engineering Research page to get started on research opportunities.