Susan Ariel Aaronson

Susan Ariel Aaronson is a Research Professor of International Affairs at George Washington University and Director of the Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub (DataGovHub), which educates policymakers, media, and the public on domestic and international data governance issues. She holds cross-disciplinary fellowships at GWU's Institute for International Economic Policy, Institute for Science and Technology Policy, and Sigur Center, and serves as a senior fellow at Canada's Center for International Governance Innovation (CIGI).

Her research centers on digital trade frameworks, data sovereignty, AI policy development, and the intersection of trade mechanisms with national security and disinformation countermeasures. Current projects include mapping global data governance systems, analyzing comparative advantages in data economies, evaluating trade instruments for disinformation mitigation, and assessing U.S. strategies for AI stimulation within international frameworks.

Aaronson's work receives substantial funding from major foundations (Hewlett, MacArthur, Koch, Ford, Rockefeller), national governments (Netherlands, USA, Canada), international bodies (UN, ILO, World Bank), and corporate entities (Ford Motor, Levi Strauss), reflecting the cross-sector relevance of her policy-focused research.