Sepehr Vakil

Sepehr Vakil is an Associate Professor of Learning Sciences at Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy (SESP), serving as the Founding Faculty Director of the Center for Technology, Policy, and Opportunity and the Technology, People, and Policy (MTePP) Master’s program. He holds a PhD from UC Berkeley (2016) and B.S./M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from UCLA (2006/2007). His work bridges STEM education, technology ethics, and global policy, with a focus on equity, cultural relevance, and societal impact.

Dr. Vakil’s research examines AI’s role in education, global STEM curriculum politics, and the sociopolitical dimensions of technology. He advises the Spencer Foundation’s AI initiative and serves on National Academy of Sciences committees addressing K-12 data competencies and equity in STEM education. His awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2018) and the Jan Hawkins Award (2022).

Earlier roles include Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Equity at the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for STEM Education. He co-designs culturally meaningful STEM programs with communities, critiques militarism in education, and explores how immigration policies intersect with global demands for engineers.

• Education:
  • PhD, Education in Mathematics, Science, and Technology, UC Berkeley (2016)
  • M.S. & B.S., Electrical Engineering, UCLA (2007 & 2006)
• Awards & Leadership:
  • NASEM Committee Member on K-12 Data Competencies (2024)
  • Spencer Foundation Senior Adviser on AI (2024)
  • Jan Hawkins Award (2022), NSF CAREER (2018), NAEd/Spencer Fellowship (2018)
• Key Projects:
  • Co-designing STEM programs with marginalized communities
  • Researching AI ethics in education
  • Policy analysis of global engineering education demands

His work emphasizes critical pedagogy and systemic equity, challenging dominant narratives in STEM to center marginalized voices and global perspectives.