Fellowship

Wintersession 2025 examined the intersections of equity, ethics, and technological advancement in the rapidly evolving global digital landscape. During Wintersession, the 40 Albright Fellows participated in skills-based workshops, panels and presentations with expert practitioners and thought leaders and in interdisciplinary group work on topics related to Frontiers of Change. In addition, the Albright Institute hosted two public dialogues:

Frontiers of Change: Shaping the Next Wave of Innovation and Disruption: Nicole Wong, Mary Jane Dumford ‘59 Distinguished Visiting Professor in discussion with Bina Venkataraman, Editor-at-Large and Columnist of the Future at The Washington Post. 

Frontiers of Change: The Next Wave of Climate Action: Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy in dialogue with Wellesley's own Jay Turner, on climate action as one of the most important frontiers for innovation and change.

This year’s Distinguished Visiting Professor was Nicole Wong, the former Deputy U.S. Chief Technology Officer in the Obama Administration, where she focused on internet, privacy, and innovation policy. Prior to her time in government, Nicole was Google’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, and Twitter’s Legal Director for Products.

The eight topical issues of Wintersession 2025 were:

(1) Cashless Societies: The Case of Japan
(2) Mapping the Deep Sea
(3) Property Rights over Objects in Outer Space
(4) Data Sovereignty for Indigenous Groups in Oceania
(5) Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Arts in Germany
(6) Genetically Modified Organisms within Brazil's Food System
(7) Technology-Enabled Healthcare in Kenya
(8) Social Media Regulation and Human Rights in Taiwan