About Me

Dr. Melissa Warr, an assistant professor of Educational Design and Learning Technologies at New Mexico State University, is an interdisciplinary researcher and educator that explores the relationship among technology, creativity, design, and critical pedagogy. Her work focuses on how creative design practices with emerging technologies can address systemic inequities in educational contexts. She earned a PhD in Learning, Literacies, and Technologies from Arizona State University. She also earned an MS in Instructional Psychology and Technology and a BM in Music Education from Brigham Young University.

Dr. Warr’s research merges design with the critical examination of AI technologies. She is particularly interested in how these tools, often seen as neutral, carry implicit biases that can shape educational experiences in unintended ways. By studying these technologies, Dr. Warr aims to understand how they can either perpetuate inequalities or be leveraged thoughtfully to foster more inclusive learning environments. Her research emphasizes that while it is critical to integrate AI into classrooms, it must be used critically and creatively, with an understanding of its broader societal implications.

She is a violinist and regularly performs with religious and community groups and serves as a foster parent for children in New Mexico.