RAISE@UCR

Dr. Salloum is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and serves as the undergraduate advisor for the Data Science program. She has been a PI and Co-PI on multiple externally funded grants focused on creating pathways in Data Science (funders include NSF and CA Learning Lab) and on broadening participation in computing (from Northeastern’s Center of Inclusive Computing). Her teaching and curricular leadership emphasize machine learning, data ethics, and database management, and she is deeply committed to experiential, community-engaged learning. In recognition of this work, she received UCR’s Community-Engaged Teaching Award for providing students with high-impact learning opportunities in partnership with industry, nonprofit organizations, and local government agencies.

Dr. Avriel Epps brings nationally recognized expertise in ethical AI, data justice, and community-centered technology. Dr. Avriel Epps is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at UCR. She is an interdisciplinary scholar, author, data scientist, and educator whose research and practice bridge artificial intelligence, social equity, and human development. Dr. Epps’s research investigates how biases in AI and digital environments shape identity, behavior, and opportunity, especially for marginalized youth. Her work has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Guardian, and she has consulted with tech companies and educational institutions on equitable technology design. Dr. Epps co-founded AI4Abolition (www.ai4.org), a community-centered initiative advancing AI literacy and justice-oriented technology solutions.

Dr. Annie S. Ditta is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and serves as Chair of UCR’s Academy of Distinguished Teaching. She is a recognized leader in undergraduate education and faculty development, with expertise in evidence-based pedagogy, inclusive teaching practices, and mentorship. Dr. Ditta has received multiple campus awards for excellence in teaching and instructional innovation, reflecting her commitment to improving student learning outcomes and supporting faculty growth across disciplines.

Dr. Paea LePendu is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at UC Riverside, where he also serves as Chair of the undergraduate committee for all affiliated computing programs. His research in biomedical informatics focuses on leveraging large-scale medical text and data to advance healthcare standards and improve patient outcomes. Committed to broadening participation in the field, Dr. LePendu leads pivotal outreach initiatives, including the Data Science Academy and the NSF S-STEM ScholarXL programs.

Neftali Watkinson Medina is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at UC, Riverside. He is also the faculty supervisor for the Undergraduate Learning Assistants Program. He earned his doctorate at UC, Irvine and is currently working on CS education research, specifically, on the impact of tutoring and multidisciplinary programs on student retention and improvement of computing pathways. Neftali also does research on the use of digital twins for the representation of historical figures and the use of edge computing for efficient AI applications.

Dr. Alberto Soto is a Research and Development Strategist in the Bourns College of Engineering and Program Manager for the UCR Living Lab program. Alberto’s academic background is highly interdisciplinary and he has mentored 11 undergraduate researchers working at the intersection of biology, engineering, and computer science.

Richard Edwards serves as the Executive Director of the Exploration Center for Innovative Teaching & Engagement (XCITE) at the University of California, Riverside. In this leadership position, he oversees the center’s efforts to support innovative teaching practices, instructional design, and educational technology solutions that enhance teaching and learning across the campus. XCITE partners with faculty and campus units to develop tools, training, and programs that improve educational engagement and student success.

Guadalupe Ruiz serves as the Director of Transfer Initiatives and Professional Development in the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering at UC Riverside. In this leadership position, she oversees programs and services that support community college transfer students, focusing on their successful transition, academic progress, and professional development within the engineering school.

Britt Foster serves as the Director of Teaching & Learning within the UC Riverside Library, where she leads initiatives to support instructional services, pedagogical development, and learning outcomes across UCR’s academic community. In this role, she focuses on enhancing library-based teaching and learning practices and developing strategies that integrate information literacy into courses and curricula.

Savannah Ramirez serves as Program Director of the A Tu Lado Initiative UC Riverside, a program within the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), supporting the academic success of first-year students. She leads mentorship programing for 450 undergraduates mentees, 30 mentor student appointments, manages sponsor-compliant budgets and financial reporting, advises the grant principal investigator, and coordinates faculty and staff. Savannah also serves as the primary liaison across campus partnerships and strategic planning including the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) committee.