Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy has received a $1 million donation from the Kapor Foundation to establish the Center for Technology, Policy, and Opportunity. The center aims to address challenges at the intersection of technology, society, and policy through various initiatives.
The center's first initiative is the Master of Science in Technology, People, and Policy (MTePP), an interdisciplinary graduate program set to launch in fall 2025. This program focuses on equipping leaders with skills to handle complex issues involving technology, ethics, and policy. Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy, dean of the School of Education and Social Policy, stated that the program will prepare professionals to tackle challenges such as job displacement and ethical dilemmas in artificial intelligence.
In addition to the master's program, the center plans to offer certificates and micro-credentials for students at different educational levels. Nichole Pinkard's work on education ecosystems will guide these efforts. High school electives will introduce Chicago-area students to computer science principles and tech ethics. Undergraduate micro-credentials aim to prepare students for careers in technology policy.
Dr. Allison Scott, CEO of the Kapor Foundation, emphasized the importance of centers like this one at Northwestern in guiding technological transformation with ethical principles and equity. She noted that by equipping leaders with necessary tools, technological progress can benefit everyone.
The MTePP program offers flexibility for completion within one or two years. Courses are available in a hybrid-synchronous format requiring some in-person participation. Sepehr Vakil, associate professor of learning sciences and faculty director of the new center, highlighted that graduates would be crucial for helping various sectors focus on people's well-being amid technological changes.
Applications for the master's degree are open now for studies beginning in fall 2025. Dean Brayboy and Professor Vakil are available for media interviews through Shanice Harris at shanice.harris@northwestern.edu.