Dr. Richard Corey

Richard Corey (Rick) is the director and co-founder of the VEMI Lab, an interdisciplinary domain focusing on human-technology interaction and inclusivity that is dedicated to advancing collaborative undergraduate education and cutting-edge research processes.

Founded in 2008, VEMI has been awarded more than $12 million in prizes and awards under Rick’s leadership, including a top-3 finish in the U.S. DOT’s Inclusive Design Challenge in 2022. The lab has been featured in more than 280 media and academic publications and has accumulated over 150 student-led publications from the time of VEMI’s foundation. Rick strives to assist students become creative problem solvers, strategic thinkers, and leaders in their fields. He has twice been named UMaine’s Supervisor of the Year, a student-nominated and chosen award representing excellent mentoring and student impact. Since its inception, VEMI has graduated over 120 students and created two start-up businesses (Kinotek & Unar Labs). 

Rick holds a Ph.D. in Collaborative Practices and an MFA in Intermedia. His research focuses on the new collaborative paradigm between humans and technology. He also works as an associate graduate faculty member in the School of Computing and Information Science, educating students on interdisciplinary interactions and collaboration.