Perspectives on Technology and Civic Leadership: An Inaugural Symposium

Date(s):
April 2, 2026, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Location:
Scholars Event Theater, Room 1280, Price Gilbert Memorial Library

Please join us for a two-day symposium exploring the development of the Institute for Technology and Civic Leadership. 
 
On April 2, the event will feature a keynote dialogue with Robert George and Cornel West, followed by panel discussions designed to provide perspectives from a range of peer institutions. 
 
On April 3, the event will feature a panel of Georgia Tech leaders sharing their perspectives, followed by breakout sessions designed for Georgia Tech community members to share their feedback.
 

Agenda

Day 1 – Perspectives on Technology and Civic Leadership

9:30 a.m. Registration / Refreshments

10 a.m. Welcome

  • Sonny Perdue, Chancellor, University System of Georgia
  • Introduced by Ángel Cabrera, President, Georgia Tech

10:15 — 11:45 a.m. Robert George and Cornel West in Dialogue: Truth Matters: Fruitful Disagreement in an Era of Rapid Technological Change

  • Moderated by Amanda Murdie, Dean, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Georgia Tech

11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Lunch

12:45 – 2 p.m. Panel 1: Civic Thought and Civil Discourse Programs: Opportunities and Challenges

  • Moderator: TBD
  • Panelists:
    • Paul Carrese, Founding Director, School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership, Arizona State University
    • Chris Celenza, James B. Knapp Dean of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
    • Joshua Dunn, Executive Director, Institute of American Civics, University of Tennessee
    • Cherie Maestas, Co-director, Purdue Cornerstone Institute for Civic Thought

2 – 3:15 pm Panel 2: Informing Public Debate and Leading at the Intersection of Technology and Policy

  • Moderator: Laura Taylor, Director, Energy Policy and Innovation Center, Georgia Tech
  • Panelists:
    • Mahmud Farooque. Associate Director, Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes
    • Elizabeth Matto, Director, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University
    • James Patton Rogers, Executive Director, Cornell Tech Policy Institute

3:15 — 3:30 p.m. Break

3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Panel 3: Engaging Students and Faculty Successfully in Civic Leadership and Technology Policy Initiatives

  • Moderator: Roberta Berry, Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education & Student Success, Georgia Tech
  • Panelists:
    • Sarah Ropp, Dialogue Director, SNF Paideia Program, University of Pennsylvania
    • Jay Sexton, Director, Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy, University of Missouri
    • Mary McCartin Wearn, President, Geogia Humanities

4:45 — 5 p.m. Closing Remarks

  • Aaron Levine, Interim Executive Director, Institute for Technology and Civic Leadership

5 – 6:30 p.m. Reception

Day 2 – Co-Creating Georgia Tech’s Institute for Technology and Civic Leadership

9 a.m. Registration / Refreshments

9:30 a.m. Welcome

  • Amanda Murdie, Dean, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, Georgia Tech

9:35 —11 a.m. Panel 4: Reflections from Day 1 & Perspectives from Georgia Tech Stakeholders

  • Moderator: Aaron Levine, Interim Exec. Director, Institute for Technology and Civic Leadership
  • Panelists:
    • Luoluo Hong, Vice President for Student Engagement and Well-Being
    • Larry Jacobs, Senior Vice Provost for Education and Learning
    • Julia Kubanek, Vice President for Interdisciplinary Research
    • Sultan Ziyad, SGA President
    • Additional Panelists TBD

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Breakout 1: Setting Agendas and Enhancing our Research Impact (Tentative)

12 – 1 p.m. Breakout 2 & Lunch: Preparing Students and Faculty for Civic Leadership (Tentative)

1 – 1:30 p.m. Closing Discussion (full group) and Next Steps

Related Link

Contact For More Information

Aaron Levine
aaron.levine@pubpolicy.gatech.edu