About Me

I am a PhD Computer Science student in Virginia Tech's Department of Computer Science. I am advised by Dr. Ihudiya Williams.

I specialize in human-computer interaction research with a focus on the intersectionality between technology and religious practices. I am interested in how technology can be designed to support the needs of religious communities and individuals, mainly from the young adult perspective.

My current research focuses on the intersection between digital technologies and religious practices, focusing on the experiences of Christian young adults, spiritual health tracking, and AI religious ethics.

I am currently a Graduate Research Assistant for the Reimagining Equity and Accessibility in Computing for Humanity (REACH) Lab.

I am a member of the Center for Human-Computer Interaction (CHCI), Computing Research Association, and the SPIRITED Collective.

My dissertation research is generously supported by the GEM Fellowship, Dean's Diversity Assistantship, the Davenport Fellowship, and New Horizons Graduate Scholars.

I publish under my pen name, Alexa N. Smith.