Zachary Kilhoffer

Zachary Kilhoffer is a PhD candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, specializing in AI governance, privacy, and ethical technology regulation. He holds an MA in international relations from Webster University Vienna and a BA in international relations from McKendree University, where he graduated with Summa Cum Laude.

• PhD, Information Sciences, University of Illinois (in progress)
• MA, international relations, Webster University Vienna
• BA, international relations, McKendree University

Kilhoffer's research bridges computational social science and privacy engineering, focusing on algorithmic fairness, transparency, and EU digital policy. His work examines AI governance frameworks, large language models in education, and inclusive design for assistive technologies. Key themes include regulatory compliance, ethical AI, and socio-economic impacts of platform work.

His publications address AI governance trends across privacy standards, ethical education, and multimodal language model regulation. Articles highlight intersections between technical implementation and policy development.

• Board of Trustees Scholarship, McKendree University
• Summa Cum Laude, Webster University Vienna
• Schön Award for best master's thesis

Kilhoffer collaborates with advisors Yang Wang and Madelyn Rose Sanfilippo, contributing to EU legislative discourse like the pending Platform Work Directive through his research on algorithmic fairness and gig economy labor conditions.