Rashida Richardson

Rashida Richardson is an Assistant Professor of Law and Political Science at Northeastern University’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH). She specializes in the intersections of race, emerging technologies, and law, focusing on the social and civil rights implications of data-driven systems like AI. Her work addresses government surveillance, algorithmic discrimination, and regulatory strategies to ensure equitable technology use.

Education:

• B.A. with Honors in College of Social Studies (interdisciplinary major: Economics, Government, History, Social Theory) from Wesleyan University (2008)
• J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law (2011)

Research Interests: Dr. Richardson examines how data-driven technologies perpetuate racial and social inequities through projects like Suspect Development Systems and Racial Segregation and the Data-Driven Society. She advocates for policies that ensure accountability in algorithmic systems and equitable data practices.

Key Awards:

• Reidenberg-Kerr Award (2021)
• Schmidt Futures International Strategy Forum Fellow (2021)
• Wired Magazine’s 32 Innovators (2020)

Grants & Fellowships:

• German Marshall Fund Senior Fellowship (2020–present)
• Open Society Foundation Research Grant (2020–2021)
• Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Annie E. Casey Foundation grants (2020–2021)

Teaching: Teaches POLS 3323: Race, Inequality, and the Law, integrating her research on technology and civil rights into undergraduate education.