By Dr. Randall W. Hill, Jr, Vice Dean, Viterbi School of Engineering, Omar B. Milligan Professor in Computer Science (Games and Interactive Media), Executive Director, ICT
It is my great pleasure to share that Sharon Mozgai, Director of the Virtual Human Therapeutics Lab (VHTL) at USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies, has been awarded the Patriotic Employer Award from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). This award reflects the appreciation of one of her team members who currently serves in the National Guard or Reserve and personally nominated Sharon Mozgai for Contributing to National Security.
The Patriotic Employer Award celebrates employers who go beyond the letter of the law to actively foster a culture that respects and supports military service.
Office of the Secretary of Defense | Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve | Recognizes Sharon Mozgai, USC Institute for Creative Technologies as a Patriotic Employer Contributing to National Security and Protecting Liberty and Freedom by Supporting Employee Participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.
At ICT, we are deeply committed to serving those who serve our country—and Sharon Mozgai’s leadership is a powerful example of that mission in action.
As Director of the Virtual Human Therapeutics Lab, Sharon leads a team dedicated to the development of embodied conversational agents that support mental, emotional, and physical well-being. VHTL explores how virtual humans—AI-powered, face-to-face digital agents—can be integrated into evidence-based mHealth applications to promote behavioral change and health equity. Sharon’s research brings together psychology, medicine, neuroscience, and human-computer interaction to explore where virtual reality and artificial intelligence can provide meaningful value in clinical and therapeutic settings.
Since joining ICT in 2015 as a Research Analyst in the Virtual Humans Group, Sharon has held multiple roles, including Lead R&D Scientist and Associate Director of MedVR. She now oversees a lab whose mission is not just technological, but human-centered: VHTL is committed to equitable and accountable AI practices, rooted in interdisciplinary collaboration and a shared vision for a brighter bio-synthetic future.
One of the lab’s current flagship projects is Battle Buddy for Suicide Prevention, a virtual human–powered mobile health application designed in response to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Mission Daybreak challenge. Grounded in the military tradition of pairing soldiers for mutual support, Battle Buddy connects Veterans with a virtual agent that listens, responds, and links users to real-world resources in moments of distress. The system is designed to promote agency, connection, and holistic well-being, with options for wearable integration and personalized safety planning. The prototype has already received international recognition, winning Best Technical Demonstration at the 2023 International Conference on Persuasive Technology.
Sharon’s academic background includes a Master’s in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard University and a B.A. in Psychology from New York University. Prior to joining ICT, she worked at Harvard Business School’s Organizational Behavior Unit and served as a text analyst at MIT on a DARPA-funded natural language processing study. At ICT, she has brought those research skills to bear on complex human challenges—always with a deep respect for the lived experiences of those we serve, including military and Veteran populations.
The Patriotic Employer Award reflects not only Sharon’s institutional support for the Guard and Reserve—it is also a personal commendation. Her colleagues see her not just as a leader in affective computing and virtual human design, but as someone who truly values the people behind the work. For team members balancing the demands of military service and scientific research, that kind of leadership makes a difference every day.
On behalf of USC ICT, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Sharon Mozgai. Her recognition by ESGR is richly deserved, and a reminder of the extraordinary people who power our institute’s mission.
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