Susan Ariel Aaronson

Susan Ariel Aaronson is Research Professor of International Affairs and Director of the Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub. Aaronson conceived of and directs the Hub, which aims to educate policymakers, the press and the public about domestic and international data governance issues from digital trade to public data governance. Aaronson is also a Cross-Disciplinary Fellow and also also a Senior Fellow at the think tank Center for International Governance Innovation (GIGI) in Canada. Aaronson was also the Carvalho Fellow at the Government Accountability Project and the Minerva Chair at the National War College.

Aaronson’s research examines the relationship between economic change and human rights. She is currently directing projects on mapping data governance; and writing on comparative advantage in data; data and national security, and America’s approach to stimulating AI. Her research has been funded by the Hewlett, MacArthur, Ford, and Rockefeller Foundations; governments such as the Netherlands, U.S., and Canada; the UN, ILO, and World Bank, and U.S. corporations including Ford Motor and Levi Strauss.

Dr. Aaronson is a frequent speaker on public understanding of globalization issues and international economic developments. She regularly comments on international economics on "Marketplace" and was a monthly commentator on "All Things Considered," and "Morning Edition." She has also appeared on CNN, the BBC, and PBS to discuss trade and globalization issues. Aaronson was a Guest Scholar in Economics at the Brookings Institution (1995–1999); and a Research Fellow at the World Trade Institute 2008-2012.

Dr. Aaronson is a member of the Advisory Board for Human Rights Under Pressure (a doctoral program funded by the German and Israeli government to teach human rights); and the Advisory Board of Business and Human Rights.org. Aaronson is also the Director of the eBay Policy Scholars (a masters fellowship on digital trade). In recent years, she has been a pro-bono advisor to the UN Special Representative on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. She has also consulted for the ILO; the World Bank; Free the Slaves; the Ford Foundation; the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; the Progressive Policy Institute the Stanley Foundation; several corporations; and the governments of Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands, among others.