From Sweethearts to Swipes: Matchmaking Across the Ages

Professor Ramaprasad is an Associate Professor of Information Systems at the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Prior to joining UMD, she was an Associate Professor of Information Systems at the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University in Montreal, QC. She received her doctorate in Management, Information Systems from the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine. She holds a B.S. from the University of Southern California.

Professor Ramaprasad’s research examines interactions on online platforms and their impact from multiple perspectives. Specifically, she studies the impact of platform features and social influence – measured by social media activity, social buzz, and social network characteristics – on user participation, interaction, consumption, and payment in online music and online dating platforms. More recently, her work has turned to examine the nefarious aspects of engagement in online communities, where she examines the interplay between online incivility and engagement.

Miriam Levitin, MSW, is the founder of Luv with Lev, a Jewish community-based matchmaking service in the DMV area. She is an AASECT-Certified Sexuality Educator with years of experience teaching thousands of people about communication, consent, sexual health, and healthy relationships.

After seeing the need in her local Jewish community for help with forging meaningful relationships, Miriam launched Luv with Lev with the goal of providing affordable, inclusive, and supportive matchmaking services. She makes direct matches as well as facilitates curated events designed to spark authentic connections.

Miriam loves living in DC with her fiancé and their growing collection of houseplants, and she’s passionate about bringing more joy, community, and love into people’s lives.

Hilary Klein, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in private practice who works with adolescents, adults, and couples to address anxiety, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. Her collaborative, goal-oriented approach is designed to foster insight, growth, and healing.

Dr. Klein’s research background includes work on federally funded studies examining the impact of stress on marital communication, the genetic and environmental influences on anxiety disorders, and the developmental pathways of attachment in both infants and young adults.

Her clinical areas of special interest include anxiety, grief and loss, and helping individuals cope with chronic illness.