Koch Associate Program

Welcome, Emerging Tech Policy Leaders!

September 8, 2020

The Charles Koch Institute (CKI) and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (Hewlett Foundation) are proud to announce the launch of the Emerging Tech Policy Leaders Program, a new initiative that provides early-career professionals with opportunities in the technology and cyber policy fields. As part of the Koch Associate Program (KAP), this new course seeks to build a more diverse, equitable, entrepreneurial, and capable technology and cyber policy field to help society navigate the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

As questions rise about the impact of emerging technologies and the increasingly important role technology plays in our lives, we need thoughtful policy leaders who can provide solutions that drive innovation and make our world a better place. The Emerging Tech Policy Leaders Program will provide participants with a mix of real work experience and transformational professional development to accelerate their growth as future leaders in the field.

The program supports several positions at organizations focused on cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and tech regulation. Associates will work at their respective partner organizations for up to 24 months in a variety of research and policy-analyst roles. Associates will also participate in KAP programming where they will learn how to identify their unique skills, act as social entrepreneurs, and assist communities in breaking barriers. 

“We are excited to give this diverse group of early-career professionals an opportunity to dive head-first into the world of tech and cyber policy,” said Eli Sugarman, director of the Cyber Initiative at the Hewlett Foundation. “This unique program will deepen participants’ understanding of some of society’s most pressing technology challenges and opportunities while bringing new perspectives and new voices to fields where they are much-needed.”

“Technological advances create opportunities for people to improve their lives,” said Jesse Blumenthal, director of Technology and Innovation at the Charles Koch Institute. “In order to maintain that progress, we need the next generation of policy leaders to recognize the dynamic role that technology plays in our world.”

Organizations and individuals participating in the Emerging Tech Policy Leaders Program:  

  • Rachael Cornejo – Global Cyber Alliance    
  • Ellysse Dick – Information Technology & Innovation Foundation 
  • Alvaro Maranon – Lawfare 
  • Mónica Cabrera Pellerano – Cyber Policy Initiative at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 
  • Sarah Powazek – Institute for Security and Technology 
  • Caden Rosenbaum – Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University  
  • Rebecca van Burken – Reason Foundation 

To learn more or to find out how to get involved, visit the Koch Associate Program Page.