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STEPHEN C. REA
Ethnographer
Experienced in rigorous qualitative research design for carrying out participant observation, interviews, surveys, evaluations, and field studies, and synthesizing research results for dissemination. Competent in basic quantitative analysis utilizing digital tools. Collaborative member of technical research teams dedicated to producing actionable insights.
Areas of Expertise and Research Interests include:
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Experience Research
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Stakeholder Communications
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Interpretive Analysis
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Project Management
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Research Planning & Execution
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Future of Work
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Consumer Financial Services
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Digital Culture
Selected Projects
ETHICS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
Research Assistant Professor · Colorado School of Mines · Golden, CO · 2020 - present
Evaluating student and faculty experiences in engineering ethics education at Colorado School of Mines through survey research and qualitative interviews. Preparing a curriculum assessment for the Daniels Fund. Collaborating with colleagues in Engineering Education and Philosophy.
IMPROVING FAIRNESS, ETHICS, EFFICIENCY, AND TRUSTWORTHINESS IN CROWDSOURCING PLATFORMS
Research Assistant Professor · Colorado School of Mines · Golden, CO · 2019 - 2020
Assessed challenges that crowdworkers face on a number of different crowdsourcing platforms through ethnographic research. Collaborated with colleagues in Computer Science, Economics, and Philosophy on a NSF-funded research project.
FAIR AND RESPONSIBLE AI IN CONSUMER FINANCIAL SERVICES
Consultant · Capital One/IMTFI · Remote · 2019 - 2020
Authored a white paper that outlines key developments and concerns in artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in consumer financial services. Assisted with organizing a closed door symposium for 50+ participants.
CORE PROCESSORS AND DATA INTEGRATION IN THE CREDIT UNION SYSTEM
Consultant · Filene Research Institute · Remote · 2018 - 2019
Authored a research paper on challenges and opportunities for data integration and analysis in cooperative financial services based on interviews with C-level executives at core processors and credit unions. Report was disseminated to Filene's member institutions.
CONFRONTING DIGITAL EXTREMISM
Postdoctoral Scholar · Technology, Law, and Society Institute · Irvine, CA/Remote · 2018 – 2020
Creating four open-access teaching modules for use in undergraduate and graduate curricula exploring the tools used for coordinated disinformation campaigns, methods for cultivating critical digital media literacies, and cultures of trolling and extremism online. Modules are titled: Case Studies in Digital Extremism; Trolls & Extremists; Algorithmic Exploitation; and Toward a New Digital Civics.
YOUTH OCCUPATIONAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE FUTURE OF WORK
Consultant · Digital Media Learning Hub · Irvine, CA/Remote · 2018 - 2019
Co-authored a synthetic report for the Connected Learning Alliance that reviewed literature on education and workforce development, with a focus on experiences of nondominant youth, and identified successful interventions.
2018 TECHNOLOGY, LAW, AND SOCIETY SUMMER INSTITUTE
Postdoctoral Scholar · Technology, Law, and Society Institute · Irvine, CA · 2018
Helped coordinate a three-day convening of leading scholars in Law and Society for workshops and presentations exploring the legal implications of automated decision-making, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and auditing algorithms, among other topics. Managed a team of five doctoral students preparing a synthetic paper on “the law in computation.” Facilitating collaboration among Summer Institute attendees in preparing a technology, law, and society research “manifesto.”
THE CREDIT UNION OF THE 21ST CENTURY
Consultant · Filene Research Institute · Remote · 2017 - 2019
Executed a collaborative research project examining consumer-facing financial technologies and regulation in the credit union industry. Used Qualtrics to prepare and distribute a survey to over 13,000 contacts. Interviewed 22 credit union leaders and regulators. Co-authored a 90-page report synthesizing insights and making business and policy recommendations for the credit union industry that was disseminated among Filene’s member institutions. Presented at the 2019 NASCUS Summit based on this research.
REDUCING COUNTERFEITING USING THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Consultant · National Academy of Sciences · Irvine, CA/Remote · 2017 – 2018
Executed a nationwide comparative study of cash handling policies at 47 large retailers via emails, phone calls, and site visits. Delivered a report synthesizing insights and presented findings in front of the National Academy of Sciences’ standing committee on Combating Counterfeiting using the Behavioral Sciences.
MOBILE MONEY: THE FIRST DECADE
Consultant · Institute for Money, Technology, and Financial Inclusion (IMTFI) · Irvine, CA/Remote · 2017
Co-authored a synthetic report focused on over 9 years of research funded by the Institute identifying key developments in digital financial services for development. Made recommendations for future research and service design to move from “financial inclusion” toward “financial justice.”
ACCELERATION AND INFORMATION: MANAGING SOUTH KOREAN ONLINE GAMING CULTURE
Doctoral Student · University of California, Irvine · Irvine, CA/Seoul, South Korea · 2008 - 2015
Led project to independently develop and implement comprehensive interpretive qualitative research project on game user experience in Seoul, South Korea. Managed, planned, and tracked 30 participants utilizing direct and participant observation with user interviews in English and Korean, archival research, and videography. Awarded field research grants by the National Science Foundation and the Korea Foundation. Successfully defended a dissertation based on this research. Published three articles in top-ranked disciplinary journals, and one chapter in an edited volume.
Positions
Research Assistant Professor/Adjunct Instructor | COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES | 2019 – present
Postdoctoral Scholar | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – IRVINE | 2018 – 2019
Lecturer | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – SAN DIEGO | 2017
Visiting Assistant Professor | BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY | 2015 – 2017
Graduate Student Researcher/Assistant Researcher | IMTFI | 2010 – 2015
Social Computing Graduate Researcher | INTEL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER | 2014 – 2015
Doctoral Student & Ph.D. Candidate| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – IRVINE | 2008 - 2015
Education & Training
Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – IRVINE | 2015
Master of Arts in Social Sciences | UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO | 2005
Bachelor of Arts in Cross-Cultural Relations | SIMON’S ROCK COLLEGE OF BARD | 2003