Susan Howard
Susan Howard
Assistant Professor
Design-thinking, One Health, global health, sustainability, conservation decision-making, application of social marketing, game-based learning and emerging digital and social technologies for behavior change
Current Research
Use of choice-based digital games to analyze the feedback effect of park visitor behavior on wildlife, ecosystem and human health Direct-to-consumer approaches using video game technology on fertility awareness and reproductive health information for adolescents in India Web-based behavior frameworks as a discovery and decision-making tool to accelerate global health results |
Selected Publications
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Expanded Publication List
Grants and Fellowships
Teaching Assistant Fellowship, Environmental Science & Policy, AY 2016 & 2017
Curriculum Impact Grant, Office of the Provost, Conceived of and developed course modules to reflect professional development needs of sustainability professionals; co-wrote, revised, and solicited department and college feedback for successful grant. AY 2018-2019, Environmental Science & Policy Department, George Mason University |
Courses Taught
DSGN 101/INTS 275 Introduction to Design Thinking
INTS 375 Special Topics: Health, Medicine & Society - Systems Thinking
INTS 410 Contemporary Health Issues
INTS 210 Sustainable World
INTS 391 Introduction to Integrative Studies
INTS 249 Digital Literacy
Education
PhD, (2020) Environment, Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. MPH, (1999), International Health/Health Services Administration & Planning, School of Public Health, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI. BA, English, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT. |
Recent Presentations
Conference Panels Chaired/Moderated:
Howard, S., Mohandas, N., Ayyagari, K., Batarseh, F., 2020 Global Digital Health Conference, Panel Moderator, A Game of Choice, Not Chance: Designing a Direct-to-Consumer Mobile Game with and for Girls in India, Washington, DC (virtual), December 9, 2020.
Howard, S. (Chair), Banerjee, S., Serious Games and Avatars to Influence Real World Behavior Change, Global Digital Health Forum, December 9, 2019, N. Bethesda, Maryland.
Howard, S. (Chair), Livermore, M., Schneider, A., Practicing Design-thinking: Case Studies from Asia and Africa. Accepted symposium presentation at the NCSE’s 18th National Conference and Global Forum on Science, Policy and the Environment: The Science, Business, and Education of Sustainable Infrastructure: Building Resilience in a Changing World. January 23-24, 2018, Washington, DC.
Conference Papers accepted/presented:
Howard, S., Shankar, L., (2023, December 4-7). Creativity and Rigor at Play: The Application of a Multilayered Theory of Change to an award-winning role play game [Oral Presentation]. Global Digital Health Conference, Bethesda, MD.
Howard, S., (2023, December 4-7). Failing Fast: Lessons from Designing and Developing a USAID-funded Digital Game for Adolescents in India [Oral Presentation]. Global Digital Health Conference, Bethesda, MD.
Raj, A., Howard, S., (2023, December 4-7). Implementing a game-changing evaluation model to suit fussy researchers and serious game developers [Oral Presentation]. Global Digital Health Conference, Bethesda, MD.
Mohandas, N., Howard, S., (2023, December 4-7). Big Boys Do Cry: Researching and designing a digital game for Indian boys [Oral Presentation]. Global Digital Health Conference, Bethesda, MD.
Howard, S., Huang, C.H, Cucuzza, L. (2023, September 19-21). Go Nisha Go [Oral Presentation and Exhibit]. Ed Games Expo, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC.
Howard, S., & Ashby, E. (2023, June 5-9). Park Visitors Behaving Badly [Oral Presentation]. Conference on Communication for the Environment, International Environmental Communication Association, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Shankar, L. & Howard, S. (2022, November 14-17). Application of a multi-layer theory of change for an innovative mobile game to promote agency for adolescents in India [Oral Presentation]. International Conference on Family Planning, Johns Hopkins University, Pattaya, Thailand.
Ayyagari, K. & Howard, S. (2022, November 14-17). ‘Try-again’: Simulating real-world contraceptive decision making with ‘win/loss’ outcomes through a Game of Choice, Not Chance [Oral Presentation]. International Conference on Family Planning, Johns Hopkins University, Pattaya, Thailand.
Mohandas, N. & Howard, S. (2022, November 14-17). Design testing of an innovative mobile game intervention for adolescent girls in India [Oral Presentation]. International Conference on Family Planning, Johns Hopkins University, Pattaya, Thailand.
Lalita, S. & Howard, S. (2022, December 5-9). Shaping a Theory of Change for a Strategic Pathway to Empower Girls’ Choices through Digital Media [Oral Presentation]. International Strategic Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Summit, Johns Hopkins University, Marrakech, Morocco.
Mohandas, N. & Howard, S. (2022, December 5-9). Can a role-play-based game empower girls by nudging contraceptive negotiation with their boyfriends? [Oral Presentation]. International Strategic Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Summit, Johns Hopkins University, Marrakech, Morocco.
Ayyagari, K. & Howard, S. (2022, December 5-9). Collaboration not competition: How a digital gaming platform helps integrate and share essential sexual and reproductive health resources for adolescents [Oral Presentation]. International Strategic Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Summit, Johns Hopkins University, Marrakech, Morocco.
Howard, S. (2022, December 5-9). The Loop Trail “Quest”: Use of a choice-based digital game to analyze decision-making of park visitors [Poster presentation]. International Strategic Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Summit, Johns Hopkins University, Marrakech, Morocco.
Howard, S. (2022, April 21). The Loop Trail “Quest”: Use of a Choice-based digital simulation, interactive video, and booklet to analyze decision-making of park visitors [Virtual oral presentation]. 2022 Spotlight on National Park Resources in the National Capital Region.
Howard, S., Batarseh, F., Shankar, L. (2021, October 5). Unlocking girls’ potential through gameplay [Virtual oral presentation]. YTH (Youth Tech Health) Live Global 2021.
Ayyagari, K., Howard, S. (2021, May 25). Bridging in-game decisions and choices with real life access to FP/RH information, products, and services [Virtual oral presentation]. Global Health Science and Practice Technical Exchange Conference.
Howard, S., Ayyagari, K. (2021, May 5). Unlocking girls’ potential through gameplay: How mobile games empower girls to make confident choices, develop strong voices, and gain ability to share their own futures [Virtual oral presentation]. Global Digital Development Forum.
Howard, S., Banerjee, S. (2020, August 3). Game of Choice, Not Chance: Building an immersive decision-making tool for adolescent girls in India. [Interactive virtual workshop] Youth Tech Health (YTH) Conference, San Francisco, California.
Howard, S. (2020, October 13). Synergies between entrepreneurs, academia, and the private sector to create social impact. [Virtual oral presentation]. FIESA 2020.
Howard, S. (2020, September 14-16). Gaming for Youth Engagement and Teacher Training. [Panel Discussant].mEducation Alliance Virtual Symposia.
Howard, S., Oser, R., Joyce, M., Adcox, O., (2018, December 8-9) Playing Games to Save Lives – Bringing Serious Gaming to Behavior Change [Interactive Workshop oral presentation]. 2018 Global Digital Health Forum, Washington, DC.
Howard, S., Aguirre, A. (2018). Loop Trail “Quest”: Use of choice-based digital games to analyze the feedback effect of park visitor behavior on wildlife, ecosystem, and human health. [Accepted abstract]. Planetary Health Annual Meeting, Edinburg, Scotland.
Howard, S., Aguirre, A. (2018) Loop Trail “Quest”: Use of choice-based digital games to analyze the feedback effect of park visitor behavior on wildlife, ecosystem, and human health. [Accepted abstract.] NACCB Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada.
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