Sandra Sawaya

Sandra Sawaya is the Technical Director for the NSF National AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming (iSAT). As a member of iSAT's leadership team, she oversees the design, development, and deployment of the Institute’s AI partners.

Sandra has been with the Institute of Cognitive Science (ICS) since 2023, initially serving as the Product Manager for the Learning Engineering Virtual Institute Human-AI Tutoring project (LEVI HAT) where she collaborated with researchers, engineers, designers, end-users, and stakeholders to build AI tools to help improve tutor practices and student outcomes.

Prior to joining ICS, Sandra spent eight years in CU Boulder's central administration, holding roles across IT, Data Analytics, and Undergraduate Education. In these roles, she led multiple successful initiatives and collaborated with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to deliver campus-wide impact. Her key contributions included leading the user experience for the Buff Portal; leading a student success analytics initiative to develop models, tools, and support practices; and establishing campus-wide coordination for undergraduate tutoring.

Sandra holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology from Michigan State University. Her research portfolio includes the design of technology-mediated learning environments; the study of wearable devices and mobile learning; and the design and assessment of AI educational technologies.