Elisabeth Sylvan Email and Phone Number

Lecturer in the School of Politics and Public Policy at the Technical University of Munich, currently teaching “Critical Thinking in the Time of Generative AI”.

I have served in multiple executive leadership roles at BKC. As Senior Director for Strategy and Programming, I focus on envisioning and developing new programs and initiatives for the center.Overall, my responsibilities have included:* Envisioning, launching, and leading new educational and other projects: This has included a Summer Institute, a series of international and external educational programs called the BKC Research Sprints, BKC’s Digital Self Determination project, the AI Policy Practice, and multiple other research efforts in AI and tech ethics, education, youth, digital self-determination, identity, and technology governance;* Applying domain expertise: I have contributed substantive expertise on AI and other technology ethics, online communities, digital governance, youth, and digital technologies, and technology in education and learning. I write articles, speak to the press and at events, and facilitate discussion on expert panels; * Organizational leadership: I have provided diplomatic leadership in a complex multi-stakeholder academic setting with a highly engaged community. I have collaborated with the Faculty Director, the Executive Director, and the Board of Directors to set center priorities and turn priorities into goals. * Fundraising: supporting relationships with and proposal writing;* Representing the organization: I represent the center with international colleagues, program collaborators, funders, faculty at other universities, officials in various country’s governments, and leaders of nonprofits; &* Diversity, inclusion, and belonging: BKC serves an international and diverse community including scholars. Enabling and highlighting their work is a core and valued part of my daily work.

As Interim Executive Director, I led all aspects of the center’s work, both internal and external. I was the direct manager of all senior leaders.

As Managing Director, I led multiple strategic and all operational efforts at BKC, outside of faculty’s independent projects. I was the direct manager of all senior staff leaders.

I helped organizations to design and develop technological tools and programs that support community-based creation. I provide strategy development, insights about current sociotechnical and education trends, research design, user experience research, and early technology prototyping for community-focused nonprofits, museums, multinational corporations, and innovative schools. I often play the role of a ‘critical friend’ to leaders and teams, helping them to define their strengths and goals within a broader context and to develop strategies to implement the goals.Projects included: * Lynch School of Education at Boston College: defined a new learning engineering masters degree’s materials and technologies;* Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College: developed a new makerspace for K14 learners and educators. Developed processes, programs, K12 teacher training and K8 camps. Built partnerships. Taught blended and classes; * Stanford University Graduate School of Education: wrote articles about maker education for the website and advised on the content and design of the school’s maker space for teacher training and associated website;* Silicon Valley Education Foundation: developed strategy, research agenda and programs for a STEM middle school; * A large Asian education corporation: 1) supported the development of a 5-year strategic plan for bringing new technology into their existing education offerings & 2) adapted an Asian computer science program for the US; * Nexmap: co-designed a data literacy initiative including strategy, grants, and teacher professional development; * The Computer History Museum: defined purpose and concept design of a new community-focused makerspace; & * Bay Area Discovery Museum: co-developed a research study on maker education learning for children 0-8.

Based on the nonprofit’s sensors for science and science education, I developed programs for advocacy groups, K12 educators, and laypeople, conducted teacher training, wrote grants, and built relationships with partners. I supported laypeople, and civic groups to answer real-world questions with scientific data.

I formed a new department At The Tech (now called The Tech Interactive) that included gallery floor programming, educational labs, field trips, school and after-school programs, and The Tech Challenge. To develop a coherent set of programs focused on the museum’s core mission and strengths, I • Examined the museum’s existing programs and brand, then streamlined and expanded accordingly;• Built a team of talented and dedicated staff who could implement the vision, then supported effective team culture and processes;• Established strong partnerships with content partners, edtech collaborators, sponsors and funders.Under my leadership the education team's accomplishments included:• Expanding The Tech’s celebrated signature yearly event, The Tech Challenge;• Developing a new program, The Tech Academies of Innovation• Greatly increased the number and quality of hands-on floor programming.

Taught undergraduate HCI in the College of Computer and Information Science.

Built and studied online environments and computational tools that support collaborative learning.