Dr. Howard’s career focus is on intelligent technologies that must adapt to and function within a human-centered world. Her work, which encompasses advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), assistive technologies, and robotics, has resulted in over 250 peer-reviewed publications in a number of projects - from healthcare robots in the home to AI-powered STEM apps for children with diverse learning needs.

Dr. Howard received her B.S. in Engineering from Brown University, her M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and her M.B.A. from the Drucker Graduate School of Management. To date, her unique accomplishments have been highlighted through a number of awards and articles, including highlights in USA Today, Upscale, and TIME Magazine, as well as being recognized as one of the 23 most powerful women engineers in the world by Business Insider and one of the Top 50 U.S. Women in Tech by Forbes. In 2013, she also founded Zyrobotics, which is currently licensing technology derived from her research and has released their first suite of STEM educational products to engage children of all abilities.

Prior to Georgia Tech, Dr. Howard was a senior robotics researcher and deputy manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

What books are on your nightstand?

Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O'Neil and Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Umoja Noble

On Sunday afternoons, you can find me…

Teaching Zumba at the local YMCA

Please share your favorite quote.

I have two.

"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
― William Faulkner

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it." 
― Benjamin Mee, We Bought a Zoo