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Kristene Unsworth, PhD

Kristene Unsworth, PhD

Associate Teaching Professor
Department of Criminology and Justice Studies
Center for Public Policy
Center for Science, Technology and Society

Education:

  • PhD, Information Science, University of Washington, 2010
  • MLIS, Library and Information Science, University of Washington, 2003
  • BA, Comparative History of Ideas and German Area Studies, University of Washington, 1998

Research Interests:

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Information Ethics
  • Technology Governance
  • Surveillance Studies
  • Data-Driven Governance

Bio:

Kristene Unsworth, Ph.D., is an Associate Teaching Professor in Drexel University's Department of Criminology and Justice Studies and an affiliated faculty member of the Center for Science, Technology, and Society, which she directed from 2021 to 2026. Her work examines how data-driven technologies shape governance, public safety, and social justice. Her research focuses on the ethical, social, and policy dimensions of artificial intelligence, data governance, surveillance, privacy, algorithmic accountability, and the growing role of data-driven decision-making in public institutions.

Drawing on a background in information science, public policy, and ethics, she studies how information systems influence institutions, public life, and the distribution of power. Her research has been published in leading journals in information science, technology studies, and ethics, and she has contributed to national and international conversations on responsible AI, accountable algorithm design, and technology governance.

Drawing on a background in information science, public policy, and ethics, she studies how information systems influence institutions, public life, and the distribution of power. Her research has been published in leading journals in information science, technology studies, and ethics, and she has contributed to national and international conversations on responsible AI, accountable algorithm design, and technology governance.

Selected Publications:

  • Joyce, K. A., Darfler, K., George, D., Ludwig, J., & Unsworth, K. (2018). Engaging STEM Ethics Education. Engaging Science, Technology, and Society, 4, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.17351/ests2018.221
  • Unsworth, K. (2016). The social contract and big data. Journal of Information Ethics. 25(1) pp. 83-97.
  • Unsworth, K., Forte, A., & Dilworth, R. (2014). Urban informatics: The role of citizen participation in policy making. The Journal of Urban Technology, 21(4), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/10630732.2014.971527
  • Unsworth, K., & Townes, A. (2012). Transparency, participation, cooperation: a case study evaluating Twitter as a social media interaction tool in the US open government initiative. Proceedings of the 13th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research. https://doi.org/10.1145/2307729.2307745
  • Unsworth, K., Axelsson, A-S., Goggins, S. and Mascaro, C. (2012). Exercising Control: A Comparative Study of Government Agencies and their Relationships with the Public Using Social Media. Selected Papers of Internet Research (SPIR). (Available at: http://spir.aoir.org/index.php/spir/article/view/11).