Chutima Boonthum
Papers
3
Total Citations
17
H-Index
2
About
Dr. Chutima Boonthum is a pioneering researcher in broadening participation in computing, with a specific focus on cognitive robotics education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Her work addresses the critical underrepresentation of African American students in computer science and robotics. Boonthum’s major contributions include leading an NSF-funded collaboration between Spelman College and Carnegie Mellon University to establish robotics education laboratories and develop an experimental cognitive robotics curriculum. This initiative, detailed in her 2008 paper (8 citations), successfully introduced undergraduate instruction in cognitive robotics at multiple HBCUs. She also co-led the ARTSI Alliance (7 citations), a project designed to recruit underrepresented students to computer science and robotics by emphasizing how these fields can improve society—a key motivator for many African American students. Boonthum’s work has been instrumental in creating pathways for diverse talent in technology, demonstrating that culturally relevant, socially conscious curricula can effectively attract and retain students from historically marginalized communities. Her research remains a foundational reference for equity-focused computing education initiatives.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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