Meet the DWELL Team

Welcome to the heart of DWELL Collective, where a dedicated team is working behind the scenes to bring digital well-being to the forefront of academia

Dr. Angela Orebaugh

Professor Angela Orebaugh established the DWELL Collective to address the growing need for digital well-being. DWELL is a place where software developers, designers, educators, and users can come together to create mindful, human-centered technologies. Her passion is to help individuals and communities flourish in our increasingly connected world.

Maria Dolan

I am Maria, a fourth-year student, double majoring in Computer Science and Neuroscience. For my Distinguished Major Project in Computer Science, I am building a passive desktop tracking and survey system to model and predict fluctuations in student focus. My work combines machine learning with contemplative computing to explore how digital behavior and mindful activities shape attention, with the broader goal of helping students become more mindful of their online time and promoting wellness practices by encouraging restorative breaks when focus declines.

Lauren Hruza

In an economy where technology companies have commodified our attention and engagement, how are we choosing to spend that currency? Hi, I am Lauren, a senior at the University of Virginia investigating this topic through my undergraduate sociotechnical thesis. Drawing from The Political Economy of Attention framework, my research examines which behavioral patterns can lead to problematic technology engagement and how that undermines our agency and digital wellbeing. By analyzing the causes behind smartphone addiction, burnout, and shortening attention spans, I aim to demonstrate how this battle for our attention and engagement in the digital realm can have tangible cognitive consequences.

Lola Quraishi

I am Lola, a third-year student double-majoring in Computer Science and Spanish. I am interested in exploring how technology can be used in more meaningful and healthy ways to improve our lives. I helped create curriculum for CS 4501 Human-Centered Computing for Digital Well-Being and guest lectured on Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Digital Well-Being. Outside of school, I enjoy cooking, baking, and being outdoors!

Emma Spooner

My name is Emma and I’m a third-year student double-majoring in Computer Science and International Relations with a focus in Cybersecurity. I am passionate about mental health awareness and dedicated to creating non-addictive technology for well-being. I helped create curriculum for CS 4501 Human-Centered Computing for Digital Well-Being.