Pioneering Data Privacy and Algorithmic Fairness: Dr. Latanya Sweeney

Photograph by Jim Harrison | Harvard Magazine

Dr. Latanya Sweeney, the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT, is a trailblazer in data privacy and algorithmic fairness. After earning her degree, she served as Chief Technology Officer at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, where her research on re-identification shaped the U.S. HIPAA Privacy Rule.

As the founder of Harvard's Data Privacy Lab and Director of the Public Interest Tech Lab, Dr. Sweeney continues to lead efforts to improve how technology serves society. She also pioneered the field of algorithmic fairness, working to eliminate bias in online algorithms.

At Design Connect Create, we celebrate leaders like Dr. Sweeney, whose work inspires future innovators to pursue equity and excellence in STEM.