Dr. Ezekiel Bernardo is an Associate Professor at De La Salle University, where he completed his Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering through an accelerated honors program. His research focuses on Affective Design and its transformative role in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), examining how emerging technologies enhance user trust and experience across education, health, and e-commerce sectors. His groundbreaking work in Explainable AI (XAI) integrates affective design principles with cognitive explanations to redefine trust in human-AI interactions. This innovation earned him the MDPI Editor's Choice Award for his influential XAI article and the prestigious IEA/Kingfar Award for Research in Human Factors and Ergonomics, recognizing outstanding early-career contributions. His research provides forward-looking perspectives on how affective elements reshape user-centered AI design. As an educator, Dr. Bernardo teaches product design, physical and cognitive ergonomics, business innovation, statistics, and system dynamics at undergraduate level, while leading graduate courses in design thinking, technopreneurship, and advanced human-AI design. As Thesis Research Coordinator, he mentors the next generation of industrial engineering researchers and recently developed a new Human-AI Interaction course addressing emerging curriculum needs. His expertise has positioned him as a sought-after international speaker at the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) Webinar Series and Human Factors and AI Interaction Conferences. He has authored numerous publications in Scopus-indexed journals, contributing to global discourse on AI, affective research, and user-centered design. Beyond academia, Dr. Bernardo consults for global organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), Australian Aid Pathways, and FHI 360, applying human factors and digital innovation to advance telehealth, education systems, and public health policies.  His current research advances machine learning and deep learning technologies for ergonomic assessments, develops affective AI systems, and enhances human-AI collaboration in affective robotics. Through his multidisciplinary approach, Dr. Bernardo continues advancing intelligent, user-centered technologies that prioritize human experience and wellbeing.