Professor · Researcher · Leader
Associate Professor of Human-Centered Computing and Social Informatics at Penn State IST. Equity-centered researcher, educator, and consultant advancing broadening participation in computing through rigorous scholarship and applied practice.
About
Dr. Cain is a scholar, educator, and consultant whose work advances equity in computing and higher education. His research examines the structural and individual-level factors shaping the participation of Black people in computing and information systems, combining social theory with empirical methods to produce insight that drives policy and curricular change.
As Associate Professor of Human-Centered Computing and Social Informatics at Penn State University's College of IST, Dr. Cain conducts research at the intersection of equity, technology, and organizational systems. His work has informed large-scale initiatives in higher education and computing research, and he brings that same evidence-based orientation to consultancy engagements focused on equity analytics, broadening participation strategy, curriculum design, and organizational assessment.
Dr. Cain is available for consultancy work with universities, research organizations, foundations, and technology companies seeking rigorous, equity-centered perspectives. His instructional philosophy is grounded in experiential and student-centered learning, and he has designed and delivered graduate and undergraduate curricula across information systems, computing, and cybersecurity.
Academic Formation
Career History
Scholarly Focus
Dr. Cain's research examines the pathways of Black people into computing and engineering, analyzing structural barriers to entry and sustained success in the field. His work integrates people, technology, information, policy, and culture to address underrepresentation, employing racial and gender theories alongside interpretive epistemologies.
This research lens extends into institutional practice: designing disaggregated equity metrics, examining financial aid optimization, developing student segmentation strategies, and evaluating attainment and retention gaps across race, income, and first-generation status. Dr. Cain partners with higher education institutions to translate research findings into actionable, equity-oriented strategy, applying targeted universalism as a framework for systemic change. He is an expert in social inclusion, individual differences theory, and critical approaches to information systems research.
Scholarly Output
Extramural Funding
Instruction
Dr. Cain's teaching philosophy is grounded in two principles: that students learn most effectively when they connect content to what is personally meaningful, and that concepts are best mastered through applied exposure. He employs a mixed-methods instructional approach, blending lectures, collaborative discussion, practical exercises, and individualized guidance to convert data into durable knowledge.
Courses Taught
Community and Profession
Press and Recognition
Get in Touch
Dr. Cain welcomes correspondence from prospective collaborators, students, journalists, and community partners whose interests intersect with equity in computing and higher education analytics.
