Rahul Divekar

Rahul Divekar

Awards and Honors

  • Special Recognitions for Outstanding Reviews, ACM CHI 2025
  • [Nominated] 2024 Cronin Award for Excellence in Advising and Mentoring, Bentley University
  • Special Recognitions for Outstanding Reviews, ACM CHI 2024

    • Scholarly Contributions and Creative Productions

    Journal Articles

  • Zhou, Y., Divekar, R. (2025). Immersive, Task-Based Language Learning Through XR and AI: From Design Thinking to Deployment. TechTrends, (69) 2 427--446.
  • Divekar, R. R., Gonzalez, L., Guerra, S., Boos, N., Divekar, R. (2025). Can Generative AI Replace Search Engines for Learning? Understanding Student Preferences, Use and Perceived Proficiency in Using AI. TechTrends 1--16.
  • Timpe-Laughlin, V., Divekar, R., Sydorenko, T., Dombi, J., Oh, S. (2025). Intent-Based Versus GPT-Based Conversational Agents: Benefits and Challenges for Practicing and Assessing Oral Interaction. TESOL Quarterly
  • Divekar, R. R., Gonzalez, L., Guerra, S., Boos, N. (2024). Usage and Knowledge of Online Tools and Generative AI: A Survey of Students.
  • Divekar, R., Drozdal, J., Chabot, S., Zhou, Y., Su, H., Chen, Y., Zhu, H., Hendler, J., Braasch, J. (2022). Foreign language acquisition via artificial intelligence and extended reality: design and evaluation. Computer Assisted Language Learning, (35) Issue 9 (Link)
  • Divekar*, R. R., Drozdal*, J., Chabot*, S., Zhou, Y., Su, H., Chen, Y., Zhu, H., Hendler, J. A., Braasch, J. (2022). Foreign language acquisition via artificial intelligence and extended reality: design and evaluation. Computer Assisted Language Learning, (35) 9 2332--2360.
  • Divekar, R. R., Rastogi, N. (2017). Tech for crises. XRDS: Crossroads, The ACM Magazine for Students, (23) 3 8--9.
  • Divekar, R. R., Rastogi, N. (2017). Managing crises, one text at a time. XRDS: Crossroads, The ACM Magazine for Students, (23) 3 36--37.
  • Rastogi, N., Divekar, R. R. (2017). Serving people in crisis to make the world a better place. XRDS: Crossroads, The ACM Magazine for Students, (23) 3 38--39.
  • Tripathy, A. K., Divekar, R. R. (2017). Intelligent and Predictive Page Replacement System.
  • Ji, J., Wang, Q., Battad, Z., Gou, J., Zhou, J., Divekar, R., Carlson, C., Si, M. (2017). A Two-Layer Dialogue Framework For Authoring Social Bots.
  • Timpe-Laughlin, V., Divekar, R., Sydorenko, T., Dombi, J., Oh, S. Spoken Dialogue Technology versus ChatGPT: Benefits and Challenges for Practicing and Assessing Oral Interaction. TESOL Quarterly (Forthcoming)

    • Book Chapters

  • Sydorenko, T., Divekar, R., Timpe-Laughlin, V., Dombi, J. Spoken Dialogue Systems & Conversational Agents The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Computer-Assisted Language Learning . Springer (Forthcoming)

    • Conference Proceedings

  • Divekar, R. R., Guerra, S., Gonzalez, L., Boos, N., Zhou, H. (2025). “Exploring undercurrents of learning tensions in an LLM-enhanced landscape: A student-centered qualitative perspective on LLM vs Search”
  • Pepe, S., Divekar, R., Timpe-Laughlin, V., Sydorenko, T., Dombi, J., Oh, S. (2025). “Error and Recovery Analysis of Intent-based and LLM-based SDS”
  • Guyre, M., Gonzalez, L., Davis, M., Divekar, R. (2025). “Rewriting the script: Conversation design’s evolution with LLM co-design ” CONVERSATIONS 2025 Lübeck, Germany
  • Guyre, M., Holland, L., Shah, N., Divekar, R. R. (2024). “Prompt Engineering an LLM into Roleplaying a Management Coach: a Short Guide by and for Non-NLP Experts”
  • Divekar, R. R. (2024). “Externalizing Internal Conversations: Toward a New Paradigm of Interacting with Our Internal Voice via an External Technological Interface”
  • Zhang, X., Divekar, R., Ubale, R., Yu, Z. (2023). “GrounDialog: A Dataset for Repair and Grounding in Task-oriented Spoken Dialogues for Language Learning”
  • Divekar, R., Lepp, H., Chopade, P., Albin, A., Brenner, D., Ramanarayanan, V. (2021). “Conversational Agents in Language Education: Where They Fit and Their Research Challenges”
  • Divekar, R. R., Lepp, H., Chopade, P., Albin, A., Brenner, D., Ramanarayanan, V. (2021). “Conversational Agents in Language Education: Where They Fit and Their Research Challenges”
  • Divekar, R. R., Su, H., Kephart, J. O., DeBayser, M. G., Guerra, M., Mou, X., Peveler, M., Chen, L. (2020). “HUMAINE: Human Multi-Agent Immersive Negotiation Competition”
  • Divekar, R., Kephart, J., Mou, X., Chen, L., Su, H. (2019). “You Talkin’ to Me? A Practical Attention-Aware Embodied Agent”
  • Allen, D., Divekar, R., Drozdal, J., Balagyozyan, L., Zheng, S., Song, Z., Zou, H., Tyler, J., Mou, X., Zhao, R., Zhou, H., Yue, J., Kephart, J., Su, H. (2019). “The rensselaer Mandarin project - A cognitive and immersive language learning environment”
  • Divekar, R., Mou, X., Chen, L., De Bayser, M., Guerra, M., Su, H. (2019). “Embodied conversational AI agents in a multi-modal multi-agent competitive dialogue”
  • Allen, D., Divekar, R. R., Drozdal, J., Balagyozyan, L., Zheng, S., Song, Z., Zou, H., Tyler, J., Mou, X., Zhao, R., others, . (2019). “The Rensselaer Mandarin Project???A cognitive and immersive language learning environment”
  • Divekar, R. R., Mou, X., Chen, L., Bayser, M., Guerra, M. A., Su, H. (2019). “Embodied Conversational AI Agents in a Multi-modal Multi-agent Competitive Dialogue”
  • Divekar, R. R., Kephart, J. O., Mou, X., Chen, L., Su, H. (2019). “You talkin' to me? A practical attention-aware embodied agent”
  • Divekar, R., Peveler, M., Rouhani, R., Zhao, R., Kephart, J., Allen, D., Wang, K., Ji, Q., Su, H. (2018). “Cira: An architecture for building configurable immersive smart-rooms”
  • Divekar, R., Drozdal, J., Zhou, Y., Song, Z., Allen, D., Rouhani, R., Zhao, R., Zheng, S., Balagyozyan, L., Su, H. (2018). “Interaction challenges in AI equipped environments built to teach foreign languages through dialogue and task-completion”
  • Zhao, R., Wang, K., Divekar, R., Rouhani, R., Su, H., Ji, Q. (2018). “An immersive system with multi-modal human-computer interaction”
  • Divekar, R. R., Zhou, Y., Allen, D., Drozdal, J., Su, H. (2018). “Building Human-Scale Intelligent Immersive Spaces for Foreign Language Learning”
  • Si, M., Divekar, R. (2017). “Establishing Social Presence with a Voice-Only Chatbot”
  • Divekar, R. R., Peveler, M., Rouhani, R., Zhao, R., Kephart, J. O., Allen, D., Wang, K., Ji, Q., Su, H. (2018). “CIRA???An Architecture for Building Configurable Immersive Smart-rooms”

    • Other Scholarly Work

  • Kephart, J. O. , Su, H., De, B., Guerra, M., Divekar, R., Peveler, M., Mou, X., Chen, L. (2022). Embodied negotiation agent and platform. .
  • Divekar, R. R. (2020). AI Enabled Foreign Language Immersion: Technology and Method to Acquire Foreign Languages with AI in Immersive Virtual Worlds. .

    • Presentations

  • Timpe-Laughlin, V., Sydorenko, T., Dombi, J., Oh, S., Divekar, R. (2025). “Spoken Dialogue Technology versus ChatGPT: Benefits and Challenges for Practicing and Assessing Oral Interaction” Presented at the Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) 2025 Netherlands (Link)
  • Hey, M., Divekar, R. (2025). “Designing Experiential Learning in the classroom with Generative Artificial Intelligence​” Presented at the AIxEd Boston MA (Link)
  • Marcel, M., Fischer, K., Divekar, R., Smiley, K. (2025). “AI in the Office: Users, Uses, and Ethical Awareness” Presented at the 2025 Association for Business Communication (ABC) Annual International Conference Long Beach, CA (Link)
  • Guyre, M., Gonzalez, L., Davis, M., Divekar, R. (2025). “Rewriting the script: Conversation design’s evolution with LLM co-design ” (Link)
  • Divekar, R. R., Guerra, S., Gonzalez, L., Boos, N., Zhou, H. (2025). “Exploring undercurrents of learning tensions in an LLM-enhanced landscape: A student-centered qualitative perspective on LLM vs Search” Presented at the Springer International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education. AIED 2025 (Link)
  • Pepe, S., Divekar, R., Timpe-Laughlin, V., Sydorenko, T., Dombi, J., Oh, S. (2025). “Error and Recovery Analysis of Intent-based and LLM-based SDS” Presented at the Proc. SLaTE 2025
  • Sydorenko, T., Dombi, J., Timpe-Laughlin, V., Oh, S., Divekar, R., Pepe, S. (2025). “Investigating the effects of prompt contextualization on GPT’s pragmatic performance” Presented at the 22nd Technology for Second Language Learning Conference (2025) Iowa State University and Online (Link)
  • Divekar, R. (2025). “A plug and play AI module​” Presented at the Bentley Learning and Teaching Council (BLTC) Annual Colloquium Bentley University
  • Dalsant, A., Divekar, R., Frydenberg, M., Matra, L., Pierni, V., Plesch, S., Salina, S., Wolfe, J. (2025). “Advancing Immersive Education at Bentley University” Presented at the Bentley Research Council (BRC) Poster Presentation Bentley University
  • Divekar, R., Hey, M., Aljanaideh, A. (2024). “Designing Experiential Learning in the classroom with Generative Artificial Intelligence” Presented at the 7 Experiences Summit Bentley University (Link)
  • Timpe-Laughlin, V., Dombi, J., Divekar, R., Oh, S., Sydorenko, T., Lee, J. (2024). “Spoken dialogue technology versus ChatGPT: Benefits and challenges for practicing and assessing oral interaction” Presented at the 2024 Technology for Second Language Learning Conference (TSSL) Iowa State University (Link)
  • Timpe-Laughlin, V., Sydorenko, T., Dombi, J., Oh, S., Divekar, R. (2024). “Spoken Dialogue Technology versus ChatGPT: Benefits and Challenges for Practicing and Assessing Oral Interaction” Presented at the Artificial Intelligence Research in Applied Linguistics (AIRiAL) 2024 Columbia University (Link)
  • Aljanaideh, A., Hey, M., Divekar, R., Randazzo, S. (2024). “AI in Higher Ed: Preparing the Next Generation” Presented at the Bentley Center for Health & Business, Future Talent Council, Altruistic AI Global AI Summit on Life Sciences Waltham, MA (Link)
  • Guyre, M., Holland, L., Shah, N., Divekar, R. R. (2024). “Prompt Engineering an LLM into Roleplaying a Management Coach: a Short Guide by and for Non-NLP Experts” Presented at the CUI '24: Proceedings of the 6th ACM Conference on Conversational User Interfaces
  • Divekar, R. R. (2024). “Externalizing Internal Conversations: Toward a New Paradigm of Interacting with Our Internal Voice via an External Technological Interface” Presented at the International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction

    • Service

    Service: Department

  • Attendee, Meeting for HFID New Student Orientation - Present
  • Faculty Mentor for Mock Class for Potential HFID Students - Present
  • Faculty Mentor for Bentley University HFID Program: Faculty Spotlight & Student Research Insights - Present
  • Faculty Mentor for Second Examiner for PhD Comps Exam (PHD 1701) - Present
  • for Portfolio Event 1/1/24 - Present

    • Service: Professional

  • Committee Member for Conversations 2025 - Present
  • for ACM Conversational User Interfaces (CUI) 2025 - Present
  • Committee Chair for ACM CHI conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 1/1/24 - Present
  • Officer, Secretary for ISCA SIG SLaTE: Speech and Language Technology in Education (SLaTE) 1/1/24 - Present
  • Committee Member for 7 Experiences Summit 1/1/24 - 12/31/24
  • Committee Member for ACM Intelligent User Interfaces (IUI) 1/1/24 - 12/31/24
  • Committee Member for AI in Language Education / (Dis)embodied interActIons 1/1/24 - 12/31/24

    • Service: University

  • Senate Member for Bentley University - Present
  • Conference/Workshop Organizer for AI Faculty Learning Community (FLC) @ Badavas Center - Present
  • for PMBA Curriculum Review Workshop - Present
  • for Graduate Commencement Marshal - Present
  • for Academic Integrity Panel 1/1/24 - Present
  • for Adamian/TIE Meetings 1/1/24 - Present
  • Guest Speaker for Bentley New Faculty Orientation 1/1/24 - Present
  • Guest Speaker for Bentley's AI Summit on life sciences 1/1/24 - Present