Arturo Sierra

Arturo Sierra is a research assistant at EdRedesign and a 2025 first-generation, low-income graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he earned a master’s in Learning Design and Technology with a concentration in Literacy and Languages. Prior to HGSE, Arturo completed a post-baccalaureate in computer science at NYU and earned a B.A. in Communication from USC, where he also pursued coursework in cognitive science and narrative studies. Before joining EdRedesign, he worked at the AERID Lab as a research assistant on a project investigating faculty harassment, led by Dr. Umaña-Taylor.

Arturo’s work sits at the intersection of language, storytelling, design, and education, and he is passionate about understanding how learning happens outside the classroom. He is interested in the mechanisms by which youth and adults engage in informal learning—from media and play to digital platforms and everyday interactions—and how these insights can inform the design of more engaging learning experiences, products, and systems both within and beyond formal institutions. He hopes to pursue a Ph.D. within the Learning Sciences and Human Development to further explore these questions.

Growing up, shows like Dragon Ball and Pokémon sparked Arturo’s imagination and interest in storytelling. He is the founder of Fun Flow Publishing and has authored several Amazon best-selling children’s fiction books, including Fates of the Few: Volume 1. While at HGSE, he also founded and led the Children’s Media Club. A highlight of the club’s programming was hosting Emmy Award-winning producer Angela Santomero—creator of Blue’s Clues, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and Super Why!—for a hands-on writing workshop.