Sarita Schoenebeck and Daniel Romero named ACM Distinguished Members

The Association for Computing Machinery has named University of Michigan School of Information faculty members Sarita Schoenebeck and Daniel Romero 2025 ACM Distinguished Members.

The recognition honors significant contributions to the field of computing and information technology. Members are nominated by their peers.

“It’s our opportunity to recognize computing innovators whose efforts and creativity underpin the technologies that shape our world,” ACM President Yannis Ioannidis said. “And for those new Distinguished Members who are being recognized for their service, we’re underscoring that our field depends on colleagues who volunteer their time to serve the greater good.” 

Schoenebeck was recognized for contributions to the study of online social platforms, bridging justice theories and human-computer interaction. Her research examines how people experience harm and governance online, and how platforms can respond in ways that go beyond punitive approaches. Her work also explores family and social media dynamics as well as deceptive design practices that shape user behavior. Schoenebeck’s research has informed public and policy conversations about online harms, and she has served in a range of leadership roles across ACM communities, including CHI and CSCW.

“I am grateful for this recognition from the ACM,” Schoenebeck says. “I am inspired by the students and collaborators I work with who are committed to creating more just and fair online experiences.” 

Romero was named an ACM Distinguished Member for contributions to computational social science and advancing understanding of information diffusion and network evolution. His research explores how information, behaviors and influence spread in social media and scientific communities and how networks change in response to disruption. 

Romero’s work has helped shape foundational approaches in computational social science and network science, and his research on online diffusion, communication and scientific discourse has been widely recognized in top computing and interdisciplinary venues. He has also held significant service and leadership roles across ACM-affiliated conferences and journals.

“I am honored to join this group of distinguished ACM members, many of whom I deeply admire,” Romero says. “This recognition reflects the collective contributions of my students, collaborators, and mentors who have shaped my work over the years.”

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Sarita Schoenebeck is a professor of information at UMSI. Learn more about her by visiting her UMSI faculty profile.

Daniel Romero is an associate professor of information at UMSI, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the College of Engineering, and an associate professor of complex systems in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. Check out his research by visiting his UMSI faculty profile.