Aya Mouallem
Hello! I’m an engineer, researcher, and designer, working at the intersection of engineering education, human-computer interaction, human-centered design, and accessibility. I design, develop, and evaluate technology and pedagogy to (1) center public interest in the engineering design process, (2) make engineering education more inclusive, effective, and joyful, and (3) fundamentally transform how we prepare future engineers. I am currently an assistant professor (visiting) in the Department of Engineering at Harvey Mudd College, where I direct the Public Interest in Engineering (PIE) research lab. Prior, I completed my PhD in Electrical Engineering and MA in Education at Stanford University as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar.
I’m invested in scaling access to STEM literacy, especially in the Global South. I have launched and led multiple award-winning initiatives, including All Girls Code and LebNet Tech Fellows. I have taught in the United States, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Recently, I was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Middle East 2025 list for social impact and one of ten women transforming the landscape of leadership worldwide by the New York Times.
Recent News & Highlights:
- 01.26 I'm on the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 Middle East list for social impact.
- 09.25 My initiative, All Girls Code, is a laureate of the UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education.
- 04.25 My first-author paper, "IncluSim: An Accessible Educational Electronic Circuit Simulator for Blind and Low-Vision Learners," received an Honorable Mention Award (Top 5% of Submissions) at the 2025 ACM CHI Conference.
- 08.24 My first-author paper, "Leveraging the CARE Methodology to Enhance Pedagogical and Institutional Support for Blind or Low-Vision (BLV) Learners in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)," received the Best Diversity Paper Award at the 2025 ASEE Conference.
- 02.23 I wrote an opinion piece for the Wilson Center in Washington, DC on the status of STEM education for women in Lebanon.