Hallie Stern to complete 12-month fellowship, created in partnership with the Knight Foundation, to further the national conversation on technology and democracy
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 6, 2024) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University is proud to welcome Hallie Stern as the inaugural American Democracy & Technology Policy Translation Fellow.
Stern specializes in information and computational social science, focusing on how human interactions with emerging technologies shape and influence global societal dynamics. Her work aims to address challenges to democratic stability while advancing effective technological solutions that enhance economic well-being. She has presented her research at venues such as the Nobel Prize Summit, UNGA, Harvard University, and DefCon, covering topics related to AI and geoeconomics, election integrity, algorithmic bias, information threats, and data security.
As the McCain Institute’s American Democracy & Technology Policy Translation Fellow, Stern will help advance the conversation on how stakeholders can rethink the use of data and AI within civic and governmental frameworks, globally.
“I look forward to working with the McCain Institute to identify ways to protect and promote American democracy in the face of mis- and disinformation online,” said Stern. “Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence present many opportunities, but it’s important to understand their risk to American democracy.”
“Threats to American democracy emerge every day in the form of mis- and disinformation on the internet,” said McCain Institute Director of Democracy Programs Paul Fagan. “This fellowship was designed to give democracy experts, such as Hallie, the ability to bring this critical issue into the national conversation.”
The American Democracy & Technology Policy Translation Fellowship, created with the generous support of the Knight Foundation, supports fellows who apply emerging research and technological innovations to promote democracy and protect rights in the face of technological challenges, mis- and disinformation, and efforts to undermine American democratic norms and institutions.
See Stern’s full bio HERE. Learn more about the McCain Institute’s Democracy Program HERE.
About the McCain Institute at Arizona State University
The McCain Institute is a nonpartisan organization inspired by Senator John McCain and his family’s dedication to public service. We are part of Arizona State University and based in Washington, D.C. Our programs defend democracy, advance human rights and freedom, and empower character-driven leaders. Our unique power to convene leaders across the global political spectrum enables us to make a real impact on the world’s most pressing challenges. Our goal is action, not talk, and like Senator McCain, we are fighting to create a free, safe, and just world for all.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American research university, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.
###
