Recent AccessComputing PhD Graduates
By Kayla Brown, AccessComputing Staff
Several AccessComputing Team Members completed their PhDs in 2025. Congratulations to each of them on this important milestone in their careers!
Rahaf Alharbi – Ph.D., School of Information, University of Michigan
Dissertation: Reimagining Privacy and Transparency in Visual Assistance Technologies With Blind People
Rahaf is now an assistant professor at the Pratt Institute School of Information, where she teaches and conducts research on accessibility, disability studies, the ethical implications of technology, privacy, and human–computer interaction.
Bahar Shahrokhian – Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Arizona State University
Dissertation: Toward Smarter In-Person Classrooms Through Speech Analytics
Bahar' research focuses on multimodal learning analytics to improve real classroom experiences through methods that process speech in noisy environments, detect teacher activities, and analyze student collaboration via vocal interactions.
Chorong Park – Ph.D. in Technology, Purdue University
Dissertation: Trust, Affection, and Autonomy: Designing Joyful and Inclusive VR/AR, AI, and Robotic Companions for Older Adults
Chorong's doctoral work centers on making technology more accessible and empowering for older adults and people with disabilities. She is now an assistant professor at the University of Houston.
Yasha Iravantchi – Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Michigan
Dissertation: Usable and Ubiquitous Privacy-Aware Sensing Devices
Yasha' ddressinYashaddressing major challenges in the adoption of smart sensing in homes and healthcare, with a focus on user privacy
Yasha is the recipient of the Kuck Dissertation Prize for exceptionally impactful CSE dissertations and is now a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University.
Nahideh Salehifar – Ph.D. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Dissertation: Metal Organic Thin Film Coated on Optical Fiber Gas Sensor
Nahideh's research includes developing UV-based gas sensors, fiber-optic sensors, and electronic noses for industrial and harsh environmental applications, integrating nanotechnology with innovative sensing approaches.
Cassidy Pyle – Ph.D. in Information Science, University of Michigan School of Information
Dissertation: Investigating Affirmative Action Discussions on Social Media
Cassidy' dissertation research examines how people discuss affirmative action in U.S. college admissions across social media platforms. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan working on projects related to AI-mediated communication.