The Baskin School of Engineering recognized Assistant Professor of Computational Media Kate Ringland as the inaugural recipient of the Sung-Mo Steve Kang Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. This annual award recognizes a faculty member who is making meaningful strides toward more inclusive teaching and education at Baskin Engineering. Ringland’s transformative approach to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion is reshaping the landscape of computational media research and education at UC Santa Cruz.
Since establishing the Misfit Lab, Ringland has cultivated a research environment that centers marginalized experiences. Nearly all of her current Ph.D. students identify as disabled, neurodivergent, or come from communities historically underrepresented in STEM, reflecting her commitment to creating more welcoming scientific spaces. By developing research protocols that prioritize accessibility and publishing her lab’s inclusive practices, Ringland has built a supportive ecosystem where scholars from all backgrounds can thrive.
Ringland’s impact extends beyond the lab—her research in human-computer interaction challenges stereotypes and fosters safer platforms for a broad range of communities. With publications in the prestigious Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), and Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW), Ringland has emerged as a national leader in designing technological interventions that genuinely support communities historically underrepresented in STEM. Her achievements include a landmark best paper award recognizing accessible remote work for neurodivergent professionals.
Her service as Accessibility and Equity Co-chair for CSCW also demonstrates her systemic approach to institutional change. She successfully combined previously separate committees to ensure more comprehensive scholarly inclusion.
Through these initiatives and more, Ringland embodies the spirit of innovation and inclusion that the Sung-Mo Steve Kang DEI Award celebrates, demonstrating how compassionate and intentional leadership can transform technological research and education.
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