About Me

Barbara Oakley, PhD, PE, is a Professor of Engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and Coursera’s first “Innovation Instructor.” Her research explores the intricate connections between neuroscience and social behavior and has been described as "revolutionary" by the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Oakley has published in prestigious outlets, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. She has received multiple national teaching awards, including the American Society of Engineering Education’s Chester F. Carlson Award for technical innovation in engineering education.