Andreea Cotoranu is a Clinical Professor in the Information Technology Department, and Director of the New York City Design Factory initiative at 17³Ô¹ÏÍø. Andreea teaches product development, research methods and project-based courses at the undergraduate and graduate level. Her research interests lie at the intersection of natural language processing, human-computer interaction, and computing/cybersecurity education.
Prior to joining the faculty in 2019, Andreea served as Assistant Dean for Academic Innovation in the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at 17³Ô¹ÏÍø. In this role she focused on developing educational environments that enrich the student experience. Specifically, she designed and implemented project-based experiences with multiple academic disciplines, international collaborations, and partnerships with industry and academia. Andreea’s work shares a common goal of creating curricular and pedagogical structures as well as academic cultures that facilitate students' interests, motivation, and desire to persist in computing.
During her tenure at 17³Ô¹ÏÍø, Andreea spearheaded efforts in cybersecurity education, training, and outreach, and she is affiliated with the Cybersecurity Education Research Lab at 17³Ô¹ÏÍø. She was the Principal Investigator for the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø GenCyber program funded by the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation aiming to expand cybersecurity education at the high school level by training teachers (2016 to 2019). She is a Co-Principal Investigator for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship program and the National Science Foundation CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program aimed to recruit the nation’s top cybersecurity talent to the federal workforce to protect the nation’s information systems and networks.
PhD Candidate
Computer Science
MS, 17³Ô¹ÏÍø, 2008
Information Technology
BS, 17³Ô¹ÏÍø, 2004
Information Systems
Digital Excavations: A Place-Based Humanities, Art, and Computing Curriculum
Dwyer, C., Kreitz, K. A., Cotoranu, A., Pappenheimer, W. D., Cunningham, S. B. & Iacullo-Bird, M. September 2022. National Endowment for the Humanities, Federal. Not Funded.
Erasmus+ Mobility: HAMK Design Factory & NYC Design Factory
Cotoranu, A., Mikkonen, M., Jussila, J. & Cronin, J. 2025 - 2026. Erasmus+ Programme: Mobility of Higher Education Students and Staff, Other. Funded.
Strengthening 17³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Cyber Community and Pathways using Research Experience, Technical Training and Institutional Outreach
Chen, L., Benjamin, D., Hayes, D., Ryan, J. & Cotoranu, A. August 2021 - August 2026. National Science Foundation, Federal. Funded.
2023 Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program
Cotoranu, A., Chen, L., Acampora, J. & Genc, Y. August 2023 - November 2025. Department of Defense, Federal. Funded.
2024 Department of Defense Cyber Service Academy
Cotoranu, A. & Chen, L. August 2024 - July 2025. Department of Defense, Federal. Funded.
Challenge Based Innovation A3
Thong, C., Cotoranu, A. & Kohler, K. October 2022 - May 2024. ATTRACT Phase 2 European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation; Program Coordinator Swinburne University of Technology, Other. Funded.
2022 Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program
Cotoranu, A. & Chen, L. September 2022 - November 2023. National Security Agency, Federal. Funded.
2021 Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program
Chen, L. & Cotoranu, A. August 2021 - November 2022. National Security Agency, Federal. Funded.
CAE-C K-12 Pipeline Development Initiative: RING
Chen, L., Cotoranu, A. & Mosley, P. October 2020 - September 2022. Department of Defense (subcontract via University of Alabama - Huntsville ), Federal. Funded.
DoD Cybersecurity Scholarship Program: Scholarship
Chen, L. & Cotoranu, A. September 2020 - December 2021. Department of Defense, Federal. Funded.
17³Ô¹ÏÍø GenCyber Workshop for High School Teachers
Cotoranu, A. & Chen, L. May 2019 - May 2020. National Security Agency / National Science Foundation, Federal. Funded.
17³Ô¹ÏÍø GenCyber Workshop for High School Teachers
Cotoranu, A. & Chen, L. May 2018 - May 2019. National Security Agency / National Science Foundation, Federal. Funded.
17³Ô¹ÏÍø GenCyber Workshop for High School Teachers
Cotoranu, A. & Chen, L. May 2017 - May 2018. National Security Agency / National Science Foundation, Federal. Funded.
CIS 102: Tpc: Design Thinking and Innov
CIS 161: Design Thinking & Innovation
CS 365: Product Development Project
CS 397: Topics in Computer Science
CS 398: Product Development Project
CS 490: Ind Study in Computer Science
CS 632: Directed Readings in CS
CS 665: Product Development Project
CS 691: Computer Science Project I
CS 692: Computer Science Project II
IS 600: Grad Independent Study in IS
IS 628: Research Mthds for User Exp.
IS 638: Intro to User Exprnc Design
IS 690: Information Architecture
IT 691: Capstone Project
Beyond Agreement: Structural Alignment in Hybrid Human–LLM Evaluation Systems
Cotoranu, A.
Segmenting Cybersecurity Knowledge from Short Explanations: An Unsupervised Analytics Approach
Cotoranu, A. & Chen, L.
Superpower Skills: From Emotional Intelligence to Critical Thinking
Down, A., Tan, L. & Cotoranu, A. Springer Nature.
InfraSense: Envisioning future interaction with urban water infrastructure through muon-based sensing
Lobel, C., Ramos, R., Glines, C., Cotoranu, A., Reiner, M. & Fonseca, E.
Systematically incorporating equity into design thinking for AI education
Scharff, C., Cotoranu, A., Wautelet, Y. & Brusseau, J. (2025). Ai Magazine. Vol 46 (Issue 2) , pages e70008.
Acting locally on global challenges: harnessing design thinking and the pedagogy of place-based learning
Cotoranu, A., Cronin, J. & Keeley, L. (2023). (Issue 2nd Design Factory Global Network Research Conference: "Contributions for Designing Multiplicity")
An Integrated System for Connecting Cybersecurity Competency, Student Activities and Career Building
Chen, L., Cotoranu, A., Mandhare, P. & Hayes, D. (2022). , pages 3--12.
Design innovation integrating deep technology, societal needs, radical innovation, and future thinking: a case study of the CBI A3 program
Thong, C., Cotoranu, A., Down, A., Kohler, K. & Batista, C. (2021). CERN IdeaSquare Journal of Experimental Innovation. (Issue Special Issue)
Fishbowl: Designing the Future of Sustainable Jam Packaging
Cotoranu, A. (2026). American Innovation Week (AIW) 2026. Design Factory Global Network,
Co-Creating Global Impact: A Design Factory Collaboration for Clean Water
Cotoranu, A., Cronin, J., Jussila, J. & Mikkonen, M. (2026). DFGN Online . Design Factory Global Network,
From If-Then to What-If
Cotoranu, A. (2025). Seidenberg School Second Year Student Cohort. New York City.
Design Thinking Workshop
Cotoranu, A. & Lammervo, S. (2023). The NYC Global Leadership Retreat. 17³Ô¹ÏÍø.
New York City Design Factory
Cotoranu, A. (2023). Opportunities in Africa Summit. Wutilo USA LLC and 17³Ô¹ÏÍø,
Recalibrated Compass: Creating a Humanities, Art and Computing (HAC) Minor at 17³Ô¹ÏÍø
Kreitz, K. A., Cunningham, S. B. & Cotoranu, A. (2023). HASTAC: Critical Making and Social Justice. .
Design Exercise for Creative Problem Solving
Cotoranu, A. & Gandhi, D. (2022). Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Northeast Conference (CCSCNE). .
There is nothing artificial about this intelligence
Cotoranu, A. (2021). Kendal on Hudson,
National Science Foundation [Reviewer, Grant Proposal]
At 17³Ô¹ÏÍø, we're redefining humanities education to meet the needs of the 21st century. Through hands-on community projects, research-based course experiences, and a focus on digital humanities, we're preparing graduates to be leaders and innovators. Our mission is to link curiosity-driven learning with real-world impact, creating a future where knowledge truly pays the best interest.
Saloni Pasad has taken advantage of everything Seidenberg’s Human Centered Design program has to offer; including working with the NYC Design Factory, earning her a trip to Switzerland to explore how today's technology can provide tomorrow's food.
Through participation in a prestigious international challenge, three 17³Ô¹ÏÍø students envisioned a future to improve the infrastructure surrounding pedestrian safety at New York City intersections.