Rebecca Caldwell

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About

Rebecca Caldwell is a pioneering researcher in broadening participation in computing, with a focus on leveraging robotics and artificial intelligence to engage underrepresented students. Her work centers on creating pathways for African-American students into computer science and engineering, particularly through hands-on, meaningful learning experiences. Caldwell’s most notable contribution is her leadership in founding the ARTSI (Advancing Robotics Technology for Societal Impact) Alliance, a consortium of 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and 9 major research universities. This initiative, detailed in her 2011 paper “The ARTSI Alliance: Using Robotics and AI to Recruit African-Americans to Computer Science Research” (6 citations), has been instrumental in enlarging the nation’s STEM talent pool by providing students with robotics-based research opportunities and mentorship. Her related work, “Using Robotics to Achieve Meaningfully Engaged Learning” (3 citations), further demonstrates how robotics can foster deep, engaged learning that bridges theory and real-world impact. Through the ARTSI Alliance, Caldwell has directly influenced the recruitment and retention of hundreds of students, making her a key figure in diversity and inclusion in computing. Her efforts highlight the power of interdisciplinary, community-driven approaches to address systemic inequities in STEM education.