Tech and Well-Being: Issues of Policy & Practice

How do emerging technologies influence our sense of well-being? From predictive analytics in social services to the role of social media in youth mental health, this event explores both the promises and perils of data-driven systems. Featuring experts in AI, homelessness policy, and digital sociology, we’ll discuss how technology is reshaping care, community, and democracy.

Speakers: Dennis Culhane, PhD, Shana Kleiner, LMS, Isabel Algrant, and Ken Miles. Moderated by Anthony Shaw, MPM, EdM

--------

Speaker Biographies:
Dennis P. Culhane, PhD

• Professor
• Dana and Andrew Stone Chair in Social Policy
• Co-Principal Investigator, Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP)
  Dennis P. Culhane is a social science researcher with primary expertise in the area of homelessness and assisted housing policy. His work has contributed to efforts to address the housing and support needs of people experiencing housing emergencies and long-term homelessness.

Most recently, Culhane’s research has focused on using linked administrative data to gain a better understanding about the service utilization patterns of vulnerable populations, including youth exiting foster care and/or juvenile justice, as well as the individuals aged 55 and older who are experiencing homelessness.

Dr. Culhane’s research also focuses on homelessness among veterans. From July 2009 – June 2018 he served as Director of Research at the National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dr. Culhane also co-directs Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP), an initiative that promotes the development, use, and innovation of integrated data systems by states and localities for policy analysis and systems reform.

Shana Kleiner, LMSW

• Manager, Center for Responsible Innovation & Technology
• Assistant Director, SAFELab & Penn Center for Inclusive Innovation & Technology

Shana Kleiner received her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University and her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Skidmore College. She currently serves as Manager of the Center for Responsible Innovation & Technology and as Assistant Director for both SAFELab and the Penn Center for Inclusive Innovation & Technology. Previously, she worked as a policy analyst for a nonprofit providing legal services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, where she developed expertise in qualitative research methods and knowledge translation.

In her current role, she researches digital expressions of grief and theoretical approaches to analyzing digital communication and language. Her research interests include online identity performance, particularly in relation to resilience and coping strategies. At SAFELab, she supervises graduate students, organizes lab activities, and conducts creative outreach alongside her research. Shana was also a fellow at the MDOCS Storytellers’ Institute, where she collaborated with artists, writers, and filmmakers on projects centered on co-creation.

Her personal interests include film, vintage shopping, and swimming.

Isabel Algrant

• Assistant Director of Training and Technical Assistance at Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP)

Isabel is the Assistant Director of Training and Technical Assistance at Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy (AISP). She works with the Director of Training and Technical Assistance to create sustainable data governance, centering community voice, especially for those most marginalized. Before joining AISP, Isabel taught 8th grade Math and Science at the Dwight-Englewood School. She has served as an intern at the Philadelphia City Council and hosts the “Why Are My Students Acting Like Children?” podcast. She has a Masters in Social Policy and Data Analysis from SP2 at the University of Pennsylvania, a BA in Government and Theater from Wesleyan University. She is a lover of theater and all things art.

Ken Miles

• Executive Director, Penn Center for Inclusiuve Innovation & Technology (PCIIT)

Ken Miles is the Executive Director of the Penn Center for Inclusive Innovation & Technology (PCIIT) at SP2. PCIIT is an activation hub connecting local communities, practitioners, and technologists to advance care-centered models of innovation. The Center translates research into practice, expands access and builds partnerships, and advances responsible AI practices and emerging technologies to bridge community-rooted innovation with opportunities far beyond.

Ken Miles is a strategist, producer, and network builder, actively fostering critical connections among people, spaces, and ideas. With over a decade of experience in both public and private sectors, Ken leads initiatives that drive positive outcomes through the development of stakeholder relationships, community engagement, and creative activations.

Before joining the Penn Center for Inclusive Innovation & Technology, Ken served as a Strategy Director for a digital agency with a focus on narrative change. As the Program Leader for West Harlem Development Corporation’s summer enrichment program, he administered academic and financial support annually with over one hundred community teens. Additionally, he held the position of Director of Strategic Partnerships at a health equity startup founded by a member of President Obama’s Fitness Sports & Nutrition Advisory Council. Ken began his career at NBC Universal, where he contributed to the production of Emmy-nominated digital Olympics content.

As an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Civic Hall, Ken launched an initiative aimed at bolstering marketing support for Black-owned businesses in Harlem. His entrepreneurial ventures expanded to partnerships designed to center equity, community, and culture. This includes his involvement in regional voter engagement efforts through Pharrell Williams’ music festival and his role as an associate producer for Ben & Jerry’s “Into The Mix” season one podcast, where he elevated stories of joy and justice. Ken currently serves as a judge through MIT Solve for the Truist Foundation’s Inspire Awards, driving positive impact for small businesses.

Ken holds a BA in Political Science from Vassar College, where he later served on their Board of Trustees. He is a Columbia University A’Lelia Bundles Community Scholar, and has been a longstanding Harlem community board member.

Anthony Shaw, MPM, EdM

• Student, PhD in Social Welfare
• Gloria Twine Chisum Fellow

Anthony Shaw, EdM, MPM, is a doctoral student in Social Welfare at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice. Shaw’s research sits at the intersection of Policy, Technology, and Race, exploring the relationships between structural racism, the under-representation of Black developers in AI design, and the portrayal of Blackness in the digital world. His work examines how representations and user experiences reinforce anti-Blackness and perpetuate the oppression of Black communities. His academic trajectory and research agenda have been shaped by his lived experiences growing up in North Philadelphia, where he witnessed firsthand the impact of disinvestment, poverty, and violence on marginalized communities.Specifically, Shaw’s work critically examines how Black males engage with AI and social media, how these engagements shape their behaviors, self-perceptions, and mental wellness, and the broader implications for social behavioral theory. By following this population, Shaw seeks to analyze the consequences of past policy decisions and their impact on the lived experiences of marginalized communities. One core question that anchors his scholarship is, “How do AI and social media shape and perpetuate narratives of violence, construct racialized identities, and reinforce systemic exclusion?” His broader research interests include algorithmic governance, digital ethics, and the evolving relationship between AI, policy-making, and structural inequality. Through his work, he seeks to uncover the systemic barriers that perpetuate racial and economic inequities while highlighting the potential for AI to be leveraged in service of social justice.His work highlights how the underrepresentation of Black developers in AI design results in algorithmic biases that reinforce racial stereotypes and contribute to the marginalization of Black communities. By examining the intersection of AI, racial bias, and technological exclusion, Shaw aims to bridge the gap between online interactions and real-world violence, ultimately contributing to AI-driven policy interventions that foster community resilience and equitable technology development.

Shaw holds a BA in Political Science from Temple University, a Master’s in School Leadership & Development from Harvard University’s Graduate School in Education, and a Master’s in Policy Management from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.