Francesca Polito

Director of Information Science at Shady Grove

fpolito@umd.edu

BIO

Francesca holds a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction. Her research is focused on sustainable human development in education, specifically interdisciplinary learning, technology for 21st-century fields, and the societal impacts of design. Her work examines how leaders and cross-functional product teams navigate collaboration and decision-making in volatile environments. She also studies how organizations adapt human-centered design and product development practices in complex, emerging, and ambiguous environments. Francesca teaches courses on the business of HCI & UX, organizational approaches to product design, innovation, and learning technologies. She is a member of the Human Development & Capability Association and UNESCO’s Inclusive Policy Lab. She is the Director of Information Science at Shady Grove.