Kenton Thibaut

Kenton Thibaut is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program (SSP), where she co-teaches a graduate-level course on global information operations. She is concurrently a Doctoral Student in the Department of Government at Georgetown University, focusing on comparative national approaches to cross-border data policy. She also serves as the Senior Resident China Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Democracy and Technology Initiative (DTI), leading research on China’s role in the global technology ecosystem and digital foreign policy.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD candidate), International Relations, Georgetown University
• Master of Arts (M.A.), International Economics, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
• Graduate Certificate in Chinese Studies, Hopkins-Nanjing Center, China

Research & Expertise: Thibaut specializes in Chinese elite politics, cross-border data governance, and global technology competition. Her work examines how state actors navigate digital domains, particularly China’s influence in shaping international technology standards and cybersecurity frameworks.

Affiliations:

• Security Fellow, Truman National Security Project
• Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations
• Former Research Assistant, Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Center

Professional Experience: Prior to academia, Thibaut worked in private-sector Chinese government relations and held roles analyzing Chinese foreign policy at DFRLab. Her interdisciplinary background bridges policy, technology, and geopolitical strategy.