Sarah Florini

Sarah Florini is an Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies and Associate Director of the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics at Arizona State University (ASU). She co-chairs the AI and Ethics Workgroup and directs the DH Certificate program. Her research focuses on technology ethics, digital ethnography, and Black digital culture, with notable contributions to Black Twitter and podcasting studies. She authored Beyond Hashtags: Racial Politics and Black Digital Networks (2016).

Current projects include a National Endowment for the Humanities-funded initiative analyzing TikTok creators' algorithmic folk theories, and a Responsible AI curriculum collaboration with Mesa Community College (2025-2026). She co-organized the 2022 “Experiences on TikTok” panel series, highlighting marginalized creators. Her work bridges cultural studies, critical theory, and technology, emphasizing ethical engagement with AI/ML systems.

Leadership roles include:

• Founding Director of ASU’s DH Certificate Program
• Member of the Critical Media Studies Research Cluster
• PI on NEH’s “Understanding Algorithmic Folk Theories” project

Her interdisciplinary approach integrates collective memory studies, communication theory, and digital humanities to address emerging ethical challenges in technology.