Elizabeth Newman

Sociology: Digital Humanities, ideology, power

Currently, Elizabeth Newman serves as a Social Science Subject Matter Expert at AECOM where she works with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) within the Office of Science and Engineering (OSE). Elizabeth’s role as a social scientist is to investigate societal impacts and variables related to emerging technologies (including AI) that safeguard the Homeland Security Enterprise and US citizens. Her research interests include the social impacts of AI tools and adoption through her investigation of user and design bias. Prior to returning to school for her doctorate, she completed her Master of Art degree in Psychology, focusing on Organizational Leadership from the Chicago School for Professional Psychology while also working full-time for the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Her applied research project explored the psychological effects working abroad and the importance of reintegration programs for employee mental health. 

She received an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in Sociology with a minor in Communication Studies. Elizabeth has extensive experience with research and development programs, capacity building, international partnerships, and program management (along with 16 years of federal government experience). After graduating from her undergraduate program, she served two years as an Agroforestry Extension Agent with the Peace Corps. Stationed in a small rural village without running water or electricity outside of Zinder, Niger, in West Africa, Elizabeth completed all work in Hausa (the second most widely spoken language in Africa). After completing her service with the Peace Corps, Elizabeth’s role at FAS involved developing modules and trainings for protecting and safeguarding American agriculture within the office of Trade and Scientific Capacity Building, Regulatory, Policy and Compliance Branch. While at FAS, she traveled to dozens of countries leading foreign delegations relating to trade programs with partnering ministries. 

After leaving FAS, Elizabeth worked for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as an Advisor for Private Sector Engagement programs with Fortune 100 and 500 companies. In, 2019, Elizabeth pivoted her career trajectory to work in national security where she first began working at DHS S&T in the social science tech center on an expansive portfolio that included terrorism prevention, domestic violent extremism, misinformation, and foreign interference. Elizabeth continued her international engagements though her collaboration with the Five-Country Ministerial 5RD Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) network to combat threats to US democratic processes, institutions, and society. Elizabeth then went on to work as a Research Project Manager for the Criminal Investigative and Network Analysis (CINA), a DHS Center of Excellence, located at George Mason University, where she managed a multi-disciplinary portfolio of AI/ML research projects.