Nik Marda

Nik Marda serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy in the Technology, People and Policy program, and also teaches at Brown University. He currently balances his academic roles with serving as campaign manager for Jake Johnson's congressional campaign in Minnesota's first district, while maintaining his position on the steering committee of the Tech Talent Project.

His educational background includes:

• M.S. in Computer Science from Stanford University
• B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University

Marda's professional focus centers on the critical intersection of artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and public policy. His expertise spans AI governance, technology policy development, and the societal implications of emerging technologies. He has been instrumental in shaping national AI strategies and developing frameworks for responsible AI development and deployment. His work emphasizes creating inclusive, transparent, and accountable AI systems that serve public interests while addressing potential risks and biases, with particular attention to how technology impacts democratic institutions and civic life.

Marda has received several prestigious recognitions for his contributions:

• Apolitical's list of 100 government leaders around the world
• Truman Scholar
• Gardner Fellow
• Coca-Cola Scholar
• Civic Digital Fellow

His policy career features significant government service as Chief of Staff of the Tech Division at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Biden-Harris Administration, where he chaired the committee developing the U.S. Government's strategy on AI and launched federal initiatives on privacy, digital assets, and civic tech. He later served as Technical Lead for AI Governance at Mozilla. His policy contributions include helping draft executive orders, federal guidance, and a bill of rights on AI. He has been quoted in major publications including The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and TIME Magazine, establishing himself as a thought leader at the intersection of technology and governance.

Through his various roles across academia, government, and political campaigns, Marda has built bridges between technical development, policy formation, and democratic accountability. His current work reflects a commitment to translating complex technology policy expertise into actionable political strategies while mentoring the next generation of tech policy professionals through his academic appointments.