Renowned for her investigations that bridge the realms of science, technology, and politics, Alondra Nelson occupies the Harold F. Linder Chair within the School of Social Science. She has previously held the position of president at the Social Science Research Council and has taught sociology at Columbia University, where she also took on the role of founding Dean of Social Science. In this capacity, she spearheaded the inaugural strategic planning initiative for the social sciences at Columbia, collaborating with faculty to outline long-term research aims. Nelson launched her academic journey at Yale University, earning the Poorvu Award for outstanding interdisciplinary teaching.
In her multifaceted career, Alondra Nelson has made significant contributions as a writer, policy consultant, and nonprofit administrator in the U.S. At the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, an independent research hub, she serves as the Harold F. Linder Chair and a professor in the School of Social Science. Between 2021 and 2023, she held the role of deputy assistant to President Joe Biden and was the lead deputy director overseeing science and society initiatives at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). From February to October 2022, she assumed full director responsibilities. Notably, she became the first Black woman to lead OSTP. Prior to her time in the Biden administration, she was the president and CEO of the Social Science Research Council, a nonpartisan global nonprofit dedicated to research. Additionally, she held leadership roles at the Institute for Research on Women and Gender, and was the inaugural Dean of Social Science at Columbia University, having initially started her career at Yale University.
Alondra Nelson is a frequent writer and speaker on critical themes linking social injustice with science, technology, and healthcare. Her latest work, The Social Life of DNA: Race, Reparations, and Reconciliation after the Genome, represents her latest edited or authored publication. In addition to this, she has contributed numerous essays, articles, and a total of four other books.
2023
Nelson has been selected to represent the United States on a high-level UN advisory panel for AI.Artificial Intelligence The establishment of this new AI Advisory Body marks a significant advancement in the U.N.'s efforts to tackle the global regulation of artificial intelligence. Its main aim is to encourage an inclusive international strategy that gathers experts from academia, industry, government, and research disciplines.
The immediate objectives for the Body involve fostering worldwide collaboration on AI, assisting in leveraging AI for the common good, and forging an international scientific consensus on the challenges and risks associated with AI. The Body will play a crucial role in connecting various ongoing and future initiatives concerning AI governance. Initial recommendations are expected to be released by the end of 2023, with final recommendations following by summer 2024 in time for the Summit of the Future. The first meeting of the Body is set for October 27, 2023.governance A total of 47 nations, including powerhouses like the US, UK, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland, have committed to adopting the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) to improve tax compliance in the cryptocurrency sector. This internationally-developed standard by the OECD aims to facilitate automated information sharing among tax bodies to adapt to the swiftly changing landscape of crypto assets. This initiative seeks to alleviate the tax burden on compliant taxpayers while promoting a streamlined, efficient system for managing crypto assets across businesses and government entities.
Recent social media updates from Alondra Nelson This project has advocated for the use of innovative scientific and technological advancements to protect our freedoms and rectify injustices. I am truly grateful for the relentless courage shown by the IP team and its outstanding leader.
I'm honored to be among those acknowledged for their contributions to science serving the public good this evening by... Although I cannot be there in person to celebrate, I extend my warmest congratulations to this remarkable group, along with a heartfelt greeting to MC.
Participants include Sarah Soule, the Sara Miller McCune Director of CASBS; Woody Powell, former Sara Miller McCune Interim Director of CASBS; along with the awardees Elizabeth Anderson & @FAScientists Blum Marks One-Year Anniversary with 'Best GameFi App' and 'Best Trading App' Accolades at the 2025 Blockchain Forum @Karaswisher . #FASAwardspic.twitter.com/xAyNJIfxpU
Presence of Personal Brand: 8 / 10, Authority: 7 / 10, Expertise: 9 / 10, Influence: 5 / 10, Overall Assessment: 7 / 10. Alondra Nelson, a distinguished American academic, also steps into the role of a
