Ash Center Announces 2020-2021 Technology and Democracy Fellows

July 15, 2020
Ash Center Announces 2020-2021 Technology and Democracy Fellows

Cambridge, MA —The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School today announced the appointment of its newest cohort of Technology and Democracy Fellows— seven emerging leaders committed to using technology and digital tools to help strengthen our democratic institutions through citizen engagement, social empowerment, and government transparency and accessibility.

The Center’s newest cohort of Technology and Democracy Fellows are:

Over the course of their appointment, the 2020-21 fellows will tackle some of the biggest questions facing technology, policy, government, and society and engage with the Harvard community. Specifically, the fellows will each design and lead a workshop, helping students learn new digital skills and concepts. Workshops in the past have covered topics from digital organizing and online voter engagement to prototyping and website design. 

Fellows will also spend the academic year incubating solutions to challenges in our democracy through a substantive project. Previous projects have included a report on building a modern congressional technology office, a case study of private sector civic engagement strategies, the development of cutting-edge tools to increase open data literacy and usage, and the creation of a digital toolkit to allow local election officials to better distribute nonpartisan election information in their communities.

“The development and uses of digital technologies continue to shape democratic practices in complex ways. It is more important than ever to harness the potential of these technologies even as we seek to understand and reduce the damage that they can produce,” said Archon Fung, Winthrop Laflin McCormack Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government at Harvard Kennedy School and head of the Ash Center’s democratic governance programs. “As we grapple with issues around the upcoming election, online discourse, digital work-life, our Technology and Democracy Fellows will bring their distinctive experiences and perspectives to the Harvard community. In turn, we look forward to working with each of them as they develop their projects on topics such as misinformation, organizing, racial justice, and transparency.” 

For more information on the fellowship, visit the Ash Center website

Subscribe to the Ash Center’s “Technology and Democracy” mailing list to be the first to hear about upcoming workshops. 

About the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation   

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School advances excellence in governance and strengthens democratic institutions worldwide. Through its research, education, international programs, and government innovations awards, the Center fosters creative and effective government problem solving and serves as a catalyst for addressing many of the most pressing needs of the world’s citizens.

Contact Information 

Daniel Harsha
Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation
Daniel_Harsha@hks.harvard.edu
 
Sarah Grucza
Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation
Sarah_Grucza@hks.harvard.edu