Dr. Allison Lester is an Assistant Teaching Professor in University College at Arizona State University, an affiliate faculty member with Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, and Director of Curriculum Development for ASU’s Mechanics of Democracy Lab, where she designs participatory, human-centered approaches to AI, civic learning, and trust.
AI Ethics | Digital Literacy | Action Research
Rated Top 4 AI in Education Podcast on Forbes
Listening to Thinking Through, a podcast that slows the conversation down. Host Dr. Allison Lester sits with educators, researchers, and practitioners to explore AI, technology, and learning through questions of trust, agency, and what it means to stay human in a rapidly changing world.
Latest Publications
Why Design to Learn?
Have you ever sat through a dreadfully dull professional development session, your eyelids growing heavier with each
Demystifying Design Thinking
Picture this: You’re stuck in a room with a chicken, a ball of yarn, and a blender,
Where Stars Align: Youth Participatory Action Research & Design Thinking
What happens when two powerhouse approaches like Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) and Design Thinking find themselves
Learn with Dr. Lester
Transformative Teaching
Hands-on learning that builds critical thinkers and bold, reflective leaders.
AI & Emerging Technologies
Practical, human-centered approaches to AI, media literacy, and emerging technologies.
Community-Based Learning
Programs and partnerships that connect learning with authentic, community-driven action.