PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Danielle S. McNamara

Also known as Danielle McNamara

As of October 2026, Danielle McNamara is executive director of the Learning Engineering Institute at Arizona State University and a Regents Professor of psychology. Her research includes intelligent tutors such as the Writing Pal, an adaptive tutor of writing that an Institute of Education Sciences award funded from August 2011 to June 2013. She earned a B.A. in linguistics at the University of Kansas in 1982 and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder in 1992. The American Educational Research Association named her a 2018 AERA Fellow, and the National Academy of Education elected her in March 2023. Since 2023 she contributes to ASU's Principled Innovation work on responsible AI for education.

Works
715
Citations
27,309
h-index
76

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1982–1992

    A cognitive psychology doctorate

    She earns a B.A. in linguistics at the University of Kansas in 1982, an M.A. in clinical psychology at Wichita State University in 1989, and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder in 1992.

  2. 2011–2013

    Funding the Writing Pal

    An Institute of Education Sciences award to Arizona State University, with McNamara as principal investigator, funds the Writing Pal, an adaptive intelligent tutor of writing, from August 2011 to June 2013.

  3. 2018

    Named a 2018 AERA Fellow

    The American Educational Research Association names her one of its 2018 AERA Fellows.

  4. 2019

    Editor of a new APA journal

    In 2019 the American Psychological Association names her inaugural editor of its new journal Technology, Mind, and Behavior.

  5. March 2023

    National Academy of Education membership

    In March 2023 the National Academy of Education elects her as one of 18 new members.

  6. Since 2023

    A Principled Innovation contributor

    Since 2023 she contributes to ASU's Principled Innovation work, where she supports faculty in designing responsible AI for education.

  7. 2025

    A Regents Professor title

    In 2025 Arizona State University names her a Regents Professor.

  8. As of October 2026

    Directing the Learning Engineering Institute

    She is executive director of the Learning Engineering Institute at Arizona State University and a Regents Professor of psychology.

Sources and credits

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  1. Danielle McNamara | ASU Search search.asu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. The Writing Pal: An Intelligent Tutoring System that Provides Interactive Writing Strategy Training | IES ies.ed.gov. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. AERA Announces 2018 Fellows aera.net. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Arizona State’s McNamara First Editor of New Open-Access APA Journal | Newswise newswise.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. ASU professor named editor of new psychology journal - The Arizona State Press statepress.com. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Eighteen Education Leaders and Scholars Elected to the National Academy of Education - National Academy of Education naeducation.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. Danielle McNamara - Practice Principled Innovation pi.asu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  8. Regents Professors | Arizona State University asu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  9. Danielle McNamara | Arizona State University asu.edu. Checked 15 October 2026.
  10. Danielle S. McNamara | Speaker | ASU GSV Summit asugsvsummit.com. Checked 15 October 2026.