Ioulia Rytikova

Dr. Ioulia Rytikova turns cognitive theory into high-impact STEM learning. A learning-science innovator and data-driven educator, she creates research-based, student-centered learning environments that advance academic excellence and deliver high-performance, real-world discovery experiences for students.

Dr. Rytikova is a professor in the Information Sciences and Technology department at George Mason University. She received her BS/MS degree in Automated Control Systems Engineering and Information Processing and her PhD in Automated Control Systems from the National University of Science and Technology. Though her research interests are in the areas of data science, educational data mining, machine learning, and optimization, her passion is in the field of cognitive learning and learning sciences and analytics, which allows her to develop innovative teaching techniques to support a research-based, student-centered active-learning environment in the classroom to better assist her students. In over 15 years of her career in higher education, both in the US and Europe, she acquired significant work experience in providing leadership in the areas of innovative teaching and learning, instructional design, and distance education in a variety of STEM disciplines. Recognized for her dedication to the educational process, Dr. Rytikova has received several prestigious teaching awards, including the 2025 College of Engineering and Computing Teaching Excellence Award, the 2021 Online Teaching Excellence Award, the 2020 Mason Teachers of Distinction Award, and the School of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award. Her commitment is to inspire students to find their voice and achieve their full potential, equipping them with the skills necessary for a lifetime of success.

Degrees

• PhD, Automated Control Systems, National University of Science and Technology
• BS/MS, Automated Control Systems Engineering and Information Processing, National University of Science and Technology