Rockefeller Reads discussion

Welcome to Rockefeller Reads! What do you want other book club members to know about you? Why did you want to read Automating Inequality?

Hi everyone! I'm Kelly Hammond, Director of Alumni Relations for Rockefeller College at the University at Albany. I'm thrilled to be launching this event alongside Virginia Eubanks, PhD! We had our alumni population in mind, but are happy to have students, faculty, staff, and community members joining as well. Thank you all for taking the time to join and read the book!

Hi! - I'm Virginia Eubanks, and I wrote the book you're reading! I'm an Associate Professor in the Political Science department, and in addition to Automating Inequality, I wrote a book called Digital Dead End: Fighting for Social Justice in the Information Age, and co-edited, with Alethia Jones, a book about local Black feminist pathbreaker, Barbara Smith, called Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around. For many years, I wrote academic books about technology, economic inequality, and social movements. In about 2014, I started to write longform investigative journalism for broader audiences as well. I've lived in Troy for 27 years. Can't wait to hear what you think of the book -

Hi! My name is Mila Gasco and I am a Research Associate Professor in the Public Administration Department and the Associate Research Director in the Center of Technology in Government. I am very excited about this initiative! I read the book several months ago and I actually used it in my class on public administration and information technologies. When I learned about the possibility to discuss it with the author, I joined right away!

Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Smith and I graduated with my MPA from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy in May of 2019. I am currently working within the Division of Field Investigation at the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles as an Excelsior Service Fellow. This book struck me as interesting because I have always viewed automated systems as more efficient and less biased. I look forward to reading this book and gaining a different perspective on the automated processes that have become so ingrained in our society.

Hello, my name is Sheri Denkensohn and I graduated the University at Albany in 1989 with a Business Degree and a Political Science minor.I live in Arlington Virginia and worked for 25 years for the Federal government as an attorney in the Inspector General oversight community, spending 19 years in high level positions at the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. I am a quadriplegic, and very familiar with issues of justice in the area of disability, but recognize my current shortcomings in understanding racial justice. I eagerly joined the group to educate myself. I am currently on the Rockefeller College Advisory Board. I have not started the book yet, but I will as soon as I finish what I am currently reading for my book club (we meet on Monday). I am very excited about the members of this group, and especially hearing directly from the author.

and I graduated with my MPA from Rockefeller in 2017. This book interested me because during my time with the Office of Children and Family Services as an Excelsior Fellow, I witnessed first hand how dehumanizing and dubious big data could be when applied to make decisions about the lives of vulnerable populations. I look forward to starting the book and discussing with you all.