Current Fellows

Russell Folk

Russell Folk is an NMSU alumni having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with minors in Mathematics and Computer Engineering in 2014. He is now studying for a Master of Science in Computer Science with a focus in Artificial Intelligence. He spent most of his youth in the Boy Scouts of America Program where he learned a great many skills. Since beginning his college studies he has worked as a Developer and System Administrator for Spira Footwear in El Paso. When he isn’t working or studying he enjoys any outdoors activity (as long as his gizmos and gadgets work) and photography. He is a technologist through and through. * And a Superman Fan ** And a Dr Pepper lover

 

John Kulpa

John Kulpa is a PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology at New Mexico State University. He studies cognitive psychology generally, but is particularly interested in the mental processes that underlie our subjective experiences of similarity. That is, why do we regard some things to be more alike than others? Along these lines, his dissertation research is focused on developing improved methods of measuring subjective similarity. John is also committed to excellence in teaching and the scholarship of teaching and learning. He has taught several undergraduate courses and, in 2013-2014, was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scientific Teaching Fellow. Away from the office, he likes to hike, swim, and ice skate. Finally, and most importantly, John is the father of Kendra, Derek, and John David—three absolutely fabulous elementary schoolers.

 

Ashley Michalenko

Ashley Michalenko is a PhD student in computer science at NMSU. In 2014 she received a Master’s in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in computer architecture. She is now working under Dr. Huiping Cao studying data mining.

 

Sean Markert

Sean grew up around Seattle, Washington. After graduating from the University of Washington in 2011, earning a B.S. in both physics and astronomy, he decided to enroll in the NMSU astronomy PhD program. His past research includes masking simulated galaxies to appear as observed from a telescope, and studying structure in universe-scale simulations. He is currently studying gravitational lensing by simulations of galaxy clusters, to improve upon observational techniques.

 

Stepheny Perez

Stepheny Perez is  studying for a Master of Science in Computer Science after having recently graduated from NMSU with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. She is currently working on the Raspberry Pi Smart Grid project with Dr. Yeoh

 

 

 

Ryan Read

Ryan Read is an NMSU alumnus who recently began a Master of Science in Computer Science. In 2014, he graduated with a double bachelors in Mathematics and Secondary Education with a minor in Philosophy. After graduating, Ryan spent a year teaching high school Mathematics and coaching robotics. When he is not studying, Ryan enjoys riding and racing bikes, solving a math problem, or reading a good book.

 

Collin Scarince

Colin Scarince is a doctoral student in the department of psychology, studying under Dr. Michael Hout. He studies human visual perception and how people learn to work with automated systems. More recently, he has done extensive research on visual search in complex, dynamic scenarios (such as monitoring closed-circuit security feeds), and how operators learn to guide their attention to regularly occurring visual features or patterns.

He graduated with his B.A.  in psychology from the University of Wyoming in 2011, and graduated with his M.A. in experimental psychology from NMSU in 2015. In his free time, he likes to play guitar, hike around the beautiful Las Cruces area, and talk about psychology with his fiancé.