we love david rios

WE LOVE DAVID RIOS

ITP and IMA are fortunate to have an excellent faculty of professors who effortlessly inspire, challenge and educate students in the intersection of technology and the multidisciplinary arts. David carries the heart of our department—he is passionate about physical computing and his love for the field shows through his teaching. He recognizes the unique backgrounds and interests of each student and integrates them into his curriculum, making his approach to physical computing, experience design, and interface design feel both relevant and personal. He is our choice for the 2025 David Payne-Carter Award for Excellence in Teaching.

WHAT ITP AND IMA STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY

Testimonials

"In one sentence, ""David is a living example of a 'cool' professor.” Keywords : Knowledgeable, Helpful, Gives constructive design feedback, Friendly, Cool, Chill" (Anonymous, 2025)

“They're always there to support me and my projects despite not being in his class anymore, and his instructions are incredibly clear.” - lml9352@nyu.edu (Lindsay Liu, 2025)

“David’s teaching goes beyond the classroom, he’s always available to help students, even if it’s not for a project in his class. He truly cares about student’s progress, spends time on the floor to understand the struggles of the student community and offers every resource at his disposal.” - md6196@nyu.edu (Ines Lucas, 2025)

“His passion for his art, knowledge and commitment to supporting students outside of class time stand out. What I learned from him still informs the projects I make today, even though I took his class two years ago.” am12330@nyu.edu (Ashna Mali, 2025)

“David is always on the floor helping students with their project. He's patient, super helpful and has a good sense of humor❤️” - sz1876@nyu.edu (Shimeng Zhou, 2025)

“David is literally the GOAT. I have rarely met someone who is so supportive and truly cares about my obsession with my work. He is so approachable in the way he teaches and encourages focus on the process. He is so clear in uplifting his values around the work we create. He always goes the extra mile to support bringing ideas to fruition, and I've seen this not only in the direct help he has offered me, but in how he approaches and works with all of his students, teaching assistants, collaborators, etc. I don't know what this award is, but if you're looking to award an excellent teacher who is highly impactful on his students, that is David. - mm14047@nyu.edu (Meghna Mahadevan, 2026)