Teaching

I teach several courses at the intersection of technology, democracy, human rights and security. I work with and support PhD students interested in issues including the political and social implications of AI, disinformation & democracy, and internet/platform governance and regulation.

If you’re interested in taking a class with me, viewing a syllabus, or are interested in PhD mentorship, please contact me.

Graduate Courses

SIS 653 - New Tech, Emerging Threats

"New Technologies, Emerging Threats” is a forward-thinking course designed to explore the array of new technologies defining our modern era, as well as the risks and challenges they pose for security, democracy, and society. As the pace of technological advancement accelerates, it is crucial to gain a nuanced understanding of how these developments can shape our future—for better or for worse. This course is tailored for those eager to delve into the complexities of innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, biomedical advancements, space exploration, and the Internet of Things (IoT), with a keen eye on both their transformative potentials and associated risks.

SIS- 712 - Digital Tech, Policy & Ethics

Digital technologies shape our daily lives, from the news and information we consume, to how we learn, how we date, how we shop, or how we express, protest, and assemble. Through algorithmic recommendations, terms of service agreements, community guidelines, and daily decisions technology companies make, platforms are determining answers to difficult questions about national security, human rights, democratic deliberation, and individual well-being: What constitutes misinformation, extreme or hate speech, or scientific authority? Who can participate in digital politics or protest and whose voices are drowned out or suppressed? Who has the right to work and what kind of protections are afforded to digital workers in the gig-economy? Where should the line be drawn between digital innovation and growth and the need for environmental sustainability? This graduate course explores contemporary debates in digital technology, policy, and ethics, surveying several core issues to examine how digital technology is reshaping rights, security and democracy around the globe.

Current & Former PhD Students

  • Kate Munro

    Kate Munro is a PhD student in the School of International Service. Her research interests include the influence of AI on decision-making and information collection in intelligence, the evolution of misinformation/disinformation, and the relationship between evolving technology and warfare.

  • Kirubel Tadesse

    Kirubel is a PhD candidate at American University's School of Communication, where he researches the intersection of media, technology, and democracy, with a focus on social media content moderation and its impact on political transitions in the Global South.

  • Monzima Haque

    Monzima Haque is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at the University of Dhaka and a PhD candidate at the School of International Service. Focused on South and Southeast Asia, her research investigates foreign policy processes, multilevel governance practices, and hydropolitics within the broader scope of global environmental diplomacy, employing narrative and text analysis as core methodologies.