Dmitri Williams

Dmitri Williams is a Professor of Communication at the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. His research focuses on technology and society, particularly the social and economic impacts of new media, online gaming, and digital communities. He holds academic affiliations with multiple programs, including Communication (BA, PhD), Communication Data Science (MS), Communication Management (MCG), and Digital Social Media (MS).

Williams earned his PhD from the University of Michigan in 2004. His work employs diverse methodologies, such as experiments, machine learning, surveys, and ethnography to study topics like social value measurement, player behavior in online games, and digital influence. He has collaborated with tech companies, startups, and policymakers, including testimony before the U.S. Senate on video games and serving as an expert witness in federal court cases.

His research interests emphasize understanding how online environments shape social interactions, including topics like social capital, toxicity, mentorship dynamics, and gender representation. Notable projects include longitudinal studies on gaming communities, the Virtual Census series analyzing diversity in video games, and computational models of influence in digital systems.

Williams’ publications span top journals like Journal of Communication, Computers in Human Behavior, and New Media & Society. He has been featured in major media outlets such as NPR, The New York Times, and Wired, and directs the Annenberg Game Lab. His consulting work helps firms optimize consumer engagement and player experience in gaming, retail, and donation platforms.