Carleen Maitland

Carleen Maitland is an Associate Professor of Information Sciences and Technology at The Pennsylvania State University and Co-director of the Institute for Information Policy. She holds a Ph.D. from Delft University of Technology, an M.S. from Stanford University, and a B.S. from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Her research focuses on humanitarian information systems, refugee studies, and digital connectivity in marginalized communities. Key themes include the intersection of technology with displacement, migration justice, and crisis response. She has extensively studied ICT applications in refugee contexts, including data collection, communication infrastructure, and policy implications.

Notable contributions include analyzing digital platform use in refugee crises, exploring trust-building in humanitarian networks, and critiquing colonial impulses in technology development. Her work bridges technical innovation with socio-political dimensions, advocating for equitable technology deployment in vulnerable populations.

Maitland’s interdisciplinary approach integrates social informatics, policy analysis, and participatory methodologies. Her articles address challenges such as anxiety management in displaced populations during pandemics, drone technology ethics, and comparative displacement policies between Uganda and Ecuador.

Her current roles emphasize institutional leadership in information policy, reflecting her commitment to addressing systemic inequities through technology and governance frameworks.