Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) among partner schools for Penn Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy

The University of Pennsylvania today announced $10 million in funding dedicated to its new Center for Media, Technology, and Democracy. The Center will be housed in the Penn School of Engineering and Applied Science (Penn Engineering) and will operate in partnership with five other schools at Penn, including the School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2).

“SP2 is well poised to advance this center, given the School’s interest in and commitment to the impact of AI and emerging technology on society,” says SP2 Chief Strategy Officer Desmond Upton Patton, Brian and Randi Schwartz University Professor, SAFELab director, and Penn Center for Inclusive Innovation & Technology (PCIIT) faculty director. Dr. Patton will represent SP2 on the new center’s executive committee, and a student in SP2’s PhD in Social Welfare Program will train in the center to develop research skills at the intersections of policy, AI, and society.

SP2’s commitment to advancing social impact through technology and data science is reflected in the School’s programs and research. The Master of Science in Social Policy Program + Data Analytics for Social Policy Certificate (MSSP+DA) includes courses about machine learning and empowers students to leverage social policy and data analytics to address economic, educational, and health inequities.

A number of SP2’s centers and initiatives examine and advance the relationship between technology and society. These include both initiatives led by Dr. Patton — PCIIT, based at SP2, and SAFELab, based jointly at SP2 and the Annenberg School for Communication. In addition, Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy, led by Professor Dennis Culhane, helps state and local governments collaborate and responsibly use data to improve lives.

The Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy will benefit from a five-year, $5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as well as an additional $5 million in combined resources from Penn Engineering, Penn Arts & Sciences, the Annenberg School for Communication, the Wharton School, Penn Carey Law, and the School of Social Policy & Practice.

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