“The publication of our work in such a reputable database has had a profound impact on me,” Malaspina said. “It not only validates our efforts but also amplifies the reach of our research, making it accessible to a global audience of scholars, practitioners, and educators.”
Malaspina graduated from the Information Technology graduate program in 2022. During his time, he took LIS5786 with Dr. Rankin and was fascinated by her studies in computer literacy and education. He was invited to join her research, where their collaboration exposed him to a new community of underprivileged Black youth.
Their paper uses Black Feminist Thought (BFT) as a framework for creating equitable learning environments and developing computing education programs that are sensitive to Black elementary students’ racial identities in under-resourced rural communities. The multi-part approach focuses on actions such as fostering equitable learning spaces, empowering Black female educators, and creating affirming educational materials. Ultimately, Malaspina and Rankin aim to equip these students with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue computing as a discipline or career, addressing the underrepresentation of Black individuals in the field.
Malaspina hopes that the paper has a substantial impact on the field of computer science, and contributes to the ongoing conversation about inclusive education in computing, inspiring other researchers and educators to consider similar frameworks in their work. “Having our paper published in the IEEE Database is significant both from a personal and professional perspective. IEEE is recognized as one of the most prestigious and extensive repositories for research papers in varying fields, including computer science,” he said.
Malaspina encourages all students to seek mentorship during their studies, sharing that his own experience was transformative in shaping his advocacy for his values and interests in future endeavors. “Working on this research assignment with Dr. Rankin was one of the best decisions I made while enrolled in the FSU MSIT program,” he expressed.