Ezra Goodwin

Year in School
Freshman

Major
Computer Science

Research Interests

Research Mentor
Gang Wang

Research/Engagement Experience
I have led and taught at a student run nonprofit organization. I held test prep classes at the local public library to provide free support to students. I created lessons specific to student questions and concerns, as well as worked one on one with individual students. I was also part of the equity board at my high school, where I met with administrators to discuss how to make the school more equitable.

Interests
I love history, reading, and writing. More than anything I have a huge interest in learning regardless of the medium.

Project Title
TBD

How did I get interested in Computer Science?
I loved Computer Science ever since I was in elementary school. I enjoyed clubs and extracurriculars that worked on skills for Computer Science. However, it wasn't until I took CS classes in high school that I seriously considered majoring in Computer Science.

What social interests matter to me?
I value equity in classrooms, as well as outside. I am particularly passionate about gender and economic equity in education.

What is my most impactful college experience?
So far, the biggest impact of my college experience has been to focus on advocating for myself and trying to be flexible in new situations.

These are a few of my favorite things!
Cats, food, podcasts, rainy days, and jazz music!

Research Description
My research is focused on analyzing the impact of deepfakes on cybersecurity. The research analyzes the effects of deepfakes on the network of trust online. We also worked on the moderation of this AI technology and how to minimize the threat.

Biography
I was born and raised in Elk Grove Village, IL. Growing up, I was heavily influenced by my Turkish culture and frequently spent summers there. I loved to swim, whether that was in the Mediterranean Sea or in the local pool. I was always interested in computer science but didn't consider majoring in it until high school.