Dr. Alondra Nelson is a renowned academic and writer, currently holding the prestigious position of Harold F. Linder Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study. As a distinguished keynote speaker, her most notable achievement includes serving as deputy assistant to President Joe Biden and acting director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), where she significantly influenced science and technology policy.
Alondra's early career is marked by a robust academic journey and notable education. She earned her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from the University of California at San Diego, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She then pursued her PhD at New York University, which she completed in 2003. Her academic career began at Yale University, where she was recognised with the Poorvu Prize for Interdisciplinary Teaching Excellence. Subsequently, she served as the Inaugural Dean of Social Science and Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at Columbia University.
Alondra's accomplishments are extensive and varied. She is the author of several influential books, including the award-winning "The Social Life of DNA." Her leadership roles include serving as the fourteenth President and CEO of the Social Science Research Council. Alondra has received numerous awards and honours, such as the EPIC Champion of Freedom Award and the Federation of American Scientists Public Service Award. She is also an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine.
Hiring Alondra Nelson as a keynote speaker offers a unique opportunity to gain insights from a leader who has significantly shaped science and technology policy. She discusses critical topics like artificial intelligence, equity in STEM, and the social implications of new technologies, which are essential for understanding the future landscape of these fields. Nelson's expertise and experience make her a valuable speaker for those looking to navigate and influence the rapidly evolving domains of science, technology, and policy.
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Books
The Social Life of DNA - Race Reparations and Reconciliation After The Genome - Alondra Nelson
How to hire Alondra Nelson
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Alondra Nelson for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Alondra Nelson's official speaking topics are listed below
- Artificial Intelligence
- Equity in STEM
- Social Sciences
- Technology Policy
- American Policy
- The Social Implications of New Technologies
- 2023 - Appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to serve on the UN High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.
- 2023 - Included in the inaugural TIME100 list of the most influential people in AI.
- 2021-2023 - Deputy Assistant to President Joe Biden and Acting Director and Principal Deputy Director for Science and Society in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). She was the first person in this role, bringing social science expertise to federal science and technology strategy and policy.
- 2021 - Received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from The City College of New York.
- 2020-2021- Served on the boards of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Russell Sage Foundation.
- 2019-2021 - Co-Chair of the National Academy of Medicine's Committee on Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation.
- 2019 - Appointed Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study.
- 2018 - Appointed Juror for the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program.
- 2017 – Appointed Juror for the inaugural Aspen Words Literary Prize.
- 2016 – Sat on the Board of Directors, Data and Society Research Institute.
- 2014 - Appointed Academic Curator for the YWCA of New York City and a member of its program committee.
- 2014-2017 - Served on various boards including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Center for Research Libraries, and the Teagle Foundation.
- 2013 - Won the Mirra Komarovsky Book Award.
- 2012 - Received the Letitia Woods Brown Memorial Book Award.
- 2008 - Awarded the Poorvu Award for Distinguished Interdisciplinary Teaching at Yale University.
