The Team Behind Glitch’n

ASU SOPHOMORE IN CERAMICS + MEDIA ARTS & SCIENCES

Kayla is a ceramic sculptor who takes inspiration from design and engineering in her work. She applies her background in the arts to assist the Glitch’n team. As a first-generation college student, she understands the difficulties and stigmas in entering new spaces and ways of thinking, especially in the arts and engineering sectors. Using these experiences, Kayla strives to help students and their families overcome these struggles to find learning opportunities in STEAM environments. 

ASU SENIOR IN MEDIA ARTS & SCIENCES + VIDEO GAMES

Ini is a multimedia creator and game developer passionate about storytelling and computational media. With a background in Media Arts & Sciences and Video Games, they specialize in designing immersive experiences that blend digital and physical spaces. Ini brings an understanding of interactive media, game mechanics, and creative coding to the Glitch’n team, helping to develop innovative spaces for learning that engage diverse thinkers.

ASU JUNIOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE + MEDIA ARTS & SCIENCES

Aivery is a technologist with a passion for the intersection of art and engineering. With experience as a student worker at ASU’s Digital Culture Summer Institute (DCSI) and a current role at the ASU Esports Lounge, they bring a hands-on approach to creative technology. Aivery’s interests include digital signal processing, embedded systems engineering, and computer graphics, and they enjoy experimenting with electronic music, circuits, and programming.

ASU SENIOR IN CREATIVE WRITING & THEATER + MEDIA ARTS & SCIENCES

Andrea comes to Glitch’n with a background in music, prop design, and writing. She is interested in experimental and exploratory mediums and the intersection between arts and STEM education. Being neurodivergent and from an underserved community, Andrea has first-hand experience with the difficulty in entering STEM fields and aims to create accessible materials to help bridge that gap.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Assistant Professor of Interactive Media | School of Arts, Media and Engineering, Arizona State University

Dr. Seth Thorn oversees the entire Glitch’n project. In 2024, he received the inaugural Teaching Innovation Award from ASU’s School of Arts, Media, and Engineering for his contributions to curriculum design, student outcomes, and engagement. He earned his PhD from Brown University in 2018 and has been recognized as a "polymath" by Electronic Sound Magazine. A two-time finalist at the Guthman New Musical Instruments Competition, he is also an accomplished violinist who has performed internationally. His research has appeared in top journals and conferences, including NIME, multiple ACM conferences, Leonardo Music Journal (MIT Press), and Organised Sound and Wearable Technologies (Cambridge University Press). He is presently preparing an album for release on the UK-based experimental music label Audiobulb, which specializes in ambient, experimental, and contemporary classical music.

CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Professor of Electrical Engineering | School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, Arizona State University

Dr. Jennifer Blain is a distinguished expert in bioelectronics and biosensors. She earned her Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. At ASU, she leads the BioElectrical Systems and Technology group, focusing on developing innovative, deployable medical devices. Her research includes implantable flexible neural and cardiac devices, as well as molecular diagnostics for detecting infectious diseases and stress biomarkers. Dr. Blain Christen co-founded FlexBioTech, a medical diagnostics startup aimed at promoting health equity by providing point-of-need molecular diagnostics in low-resource settings. In the Glitch’n project, she develops pathways into STEM careers, particularly in electrical engineering and semiconductor fields. Her work ensures that participants gain insight into real-world applications of electrical engineering and semiconductor technology, creating pathways to local industry and STEM careers.

CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Professor of Qualitative Research | Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, Arizona State University

Dr. Mirka Koro is an internationally recognized expert in qualitative research and innovative research methodologies. As a professor at ASU, she has authored multiple books and published widely on how research can push boundaries, challenge traditional methods, and make a real-world impact. Her work explores the intersection of education, philosophy, and socio-cultural critique, and she is frequently invited to speak at international conferences. In the Glitch’n project, she is leading efforts to explore how neurodivergent youth engage with learning in nontraditional, hands-on environments. Her research examines how participants make sense of circuit bending and interactive media in ways that extend beyond conventional classroom learning. She ensures the research is rigorous, meaningful, and effectively shared with the broader academic and educational community.

CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Associate Professor of Economics | Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, Arizona State University

Dr. Rita Pivovarova is a distinguished economist specializing in education policy. She earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Toronto in 2013 and has since applied her expertise in economics and quantitative methodologies to address critical issues in education. At ASU, Dr. Pivovarova's research centers on teacher quality, mobility, and retention, as well as the impact of school contexts on student achievement, particularly among immigrant populations. Her work has been recognized with grants from esteemed organizations, including the National Science Foundation and the American Educational Research Association. In the Glitch’n project, Dr. Pivovarova leads the quantitative research efforts, analyzing data to assess the program's effectiveness and inform future educational strategies.​

CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Associate Professor of Music Learning and Teaching | School of Music, Dance and Theatre, Arizona State University

Dr. Evan Tobias is an innovative leader in music education, dedicated to transforming how music is taught and experienced. He earned his PhD from Northwestern University and directs the Consortium for Innovation and Transformation in Music Education (CITME) at ASU, focusing on integrating technology, popular culture, and contemporary practices into music learning. He also leads ArtsWork: The Kax Herberger Center for Children and the Arts, collaborating with communities to enhance arts experiences for youth. In the Glitch’n project, he connects the program with music-focused organizations and arts coordinators, helps conceptualize the HOMAGO (Hang Out, Mess Around, Geek Out) framework, and contributes to qualitative research practices, ensuring the project’s learning approach is engaging and meaningful.

NEURODIVERSITY & ETHICS CONSULTANT

Dr. Ananí Vasquez is an educator and researcher specializing in neurodiversity and inclusive learning. She earned her PhD in Learning, Literacies, and Technologies from Arizona State University and has extensive experience as a teacher and coach in general, bilingual, gifted, and special education settings. Her work integrates creativity theory, disability studies, and arts-based inquiry to foster more inclusive and engaging learning environments. Dr. Vasquez has contributed to projects like the NSF-funded Telematic Embodied Learning initiative for autistic students and has developed professional learning experiences that encourage educators to reflect on and transform ableist practices. She co-edited Writing and the Articulation of Post-Qualitative Research (2023) and serves as an associate editor for Current Issues in Education. In the Glitch’n project, she ensures that curriculum design and facilitation are accessible, inclusive, and engaging for neurodivergent youth.

COMMUNICATION & ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST

Adjunct Professor | Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University

​Dr. Corey Reutlinger earned his PhD in Communication from ASU. Dr. Reutlinger's research centers on problematic and conflict-ridden communication in everyday interactions, employing applied mathematics and game theory to analyze conflicts, communication strategies, and decision-making processes under conditions of partial information and heightened emotions. Corey monitors the Glitch’n project to ensure it reflects neurodiverse-affirming communication choices, social interactions, and meets overall accessibility practices.

CONSENT & ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIST

Lead Experience Designer | Enterprise Technology, Arizona State University

Olivia Herneddo specializes in hackathon facilitation, online curriculum development, and somatic and musical practice. She earned her MA from ASU’s School of Arts, Media, and Engineering and has designed high-impact learning experiences with partners like OpenAI, TIAA, and Verizon. She also co-founded the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge, a global virtual hackathon initiative. In the Glitch’n project, Olivia develops participant-centered consent processes and community engagement strategies, ensuring that data collection in informal learning spaces remains ethical, inclusive, and welcoming.

NEURODIVERSE DESIGN & ARTIST MENTOR

Kirk Markarian (aka Neuro…No Neuro) is a prolific electronic musician and well-known voice in the glitch music community. He is also a painter and graphic designer. Kirk has released several albums, most notably on Mille Plateaux and Audiobulb Records, and has appearances on several radio stations internationally, including Concertzender in Denmark (since 2019, both as a guest DJ and as an artist), as well as other countries via radio/internet/blog. Kirk’s music physically and digitally appears in Tower Records (Japan), Bleep, Boomakt, and Newtone Records. A respected figure in the glitch music community, Kirk advocates for accessibility and process-driven design, inspiring others to find their creative voice.

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

Bukola is a first-year doctoral student in the Learning, Literacies and Technologies program at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at ASU. She is interested in exploring how equity-oriented professional development for STEM teachers can enhance their instructional practices. Dedicated to advancing educational equity, she aims to improve engagement and academic outcomes for diverse learners in STEM classrooms. In Glitch’n, Bukola supports project management, educational research, and publishing efforts, ensuring that research findings are effectively documented and shared.