Community-Centered Computing Lab (C3 Lab)

The Community-Centered Computing Lab (C3 Lab) is where MSU Denver students build technology that Colorado communities actually use. Housed in the Department of Computer Sciences and co-directed by Dr. Daniel Pittman and Dr. Ranjidha Rajan, with Alyssa Williams as its Technical Project Manager (TPM). The C3 lab brings together human-centered computing, applied artificial intelligence, and accessible data systems in service of real community needs.

Students are at the center of everything the lab does. C3 Lab students don’t practice on classroom exercises. They design, build, and ship production software alongside faculty, industry, and community partners, and they graduate with the kind of experience that changes what comes next for them.

Hands-On Experience That Builds Careers

The C3 Lab is, first and foremost, a place where students do real work and leave ready for the workforce. Student researchers in the lab:

• Build and ship production software that real communities depend on
• Work hands-on with applied AI, cloud infrastructure, and modern data systems
• Learn to work the way professional engineering teams do, with code review, testing, and real release cycles
• Collaborate directly with community partners, mentors, and researchers across Colorado
• Present their work publicly and co-author published research
• Graduate with the applied experience that employers and graduate programs look for

Since 2023, more than 30 MSU Denver students have done research in the C3 Lab, and alumni have gone on to software-engineering and AI roles across Colorado’s tech industry and into graduate programs.

The lab welcomes students from the Computer Science, Data Science and Machine Learning, and Computer Security programs who want their coursework to turn into something that matters.

In Their Own Words

“Being a part of Peer Support Hub has been the perfect job out of college. I came in knowing a little JavaScript and a lot of ambition, and now I’m contributing to real features that actually help students here at MSU Denver. I’ve learned way more building real things with real code reviews than I ever did in class.”

— Landon Strong, Peer Support Hub

“I’ve been working with the lab for almost two years, and it’s been a transformative experience. It boosted my confidence and gave me a chance to see myself as competent in my field.”

— Angela Fleenor, Sustainability Hub

“I’ve been a part of the Roadrunner Connect project since May, and it’s been the most educational part of my academic career. I’ve gained knowledge in both front-end and back-end development on a project being used in the real world, along with problem-solving and teamwork skills that couldn’t be gained inside a classroom.”

— Kenna Finotti, Roadrunner Connect

 

Building Technology With Communities, Not Just For Them

The C3 Lab’s defining commitment is that the people who will use a technology should help shape it. Lab teams run listening sessions, map community organizations, and design alongside the residents, educators, and planners their tools are meant to serve. That community-engaged approach runs through every project the lab takes on, and it is what students carry with them into their careers.

Our Projects

The lab runs four active projects, backed by more than $1.7 million in federal and state research funding from the National Science Foundation, the Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority, and MSU Denver:

• Colorado Sustainability Hub (National Science Foundation) — A statewide platform that makes Colorado’s environmental data accessible through plain-language conversation. Features Bili, an AI assistant that answers sustainability questions with research-backed, cited information.
• RILE Connect (Colorado Statewide Internet Portal Authority) — A statewide STEM ecosystem platform connecting K-12 schools, higher education, nonprofits, and industry partners, making STEM pathways visible and navigable from classroom to career.
• Roadrunner Connect (MSU Denver) — MSU Denver’s campus event discovery and engagement platform, built by students for the University community.
• Peer Support Hub (MSU Denver) — A unified platform coordinating MSU Denver’s Supplemental Instruction, Teaching Assistant, and Learning Assistant programs.

Partnerships

The C3 Lab’s work is built on partnership. The lab collaborates with researchers at CSU Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Denver, and works directly with the Colorado communities, agencies, and organizations its platforms serve. Its projects are supported by federal, state, and institutional funders, and the lab welcomes new partners interested in community-centered technology.

Recognition

C3 Lab students and faculty have published peer-reviewed research at ACM’s international Conference on Computing and Sustainable Societies (COMPASS 2025, Toronto), released open-source AI evaluation software used by other researchers, and presented at MSU Denver’s Undergraduate Research Conference every year since 2024. The lab’s work has been featured in MSU Denver’s RED Magazine and by Denver’s 9News.

Support the C3 Lab

Gifts to the C3 Lab directly fund student researchers and the technology that makes their work possible. To learn about supporting the lab, contact MSU Denver University Advancement or the lab’s co-directors.

Learn More

Visit the lab’s website for full project details, team bios, and the latest updates.