Samantha McDonald, PhD.
From the U.S. Congress to Meta
My goal is to design technology for humanity. I love to explore the ethical, political, and cultural implications of designing technical systems. I want the technology of the future to empower individuals and communities to create a more just and accessible world.
I received a PhD and MS in Informatics from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences. I worked under the advisement of Dr. Melissa Mazmanian, and supported advisement from Dr. Bill Tomlinson and Dr. Bonnie Nardi.My dissertation explored theories of representative democracy, deliberative democracy, civic technology, and the U.S. Congress. I used techniques from deliberative democracy to test asynchronous forums to improve the value and impact of constituent voices in the U.S. Congress.
My research was funded by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program (NSF GRFP) in the Laboratory for Ubiquitous Computing Interaction (LUCI). I was also affiliated with the Jack W. Peltason Center for the Study of Democracy.
I am an undergraduate alumna of The College of Engineering and Information Technology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). I worked in the Prototyping and Design Lab (PAD) run by Dr.Amy Hurst to conduct research on accessible human computer interaction.
Personal Pursuits
I am the founder of the VoteLikeIts2020 fundraising campaign for voter equality in America (VoteLikeIts2020.com).
I am a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the Orange County foster care system.
I am a sailor. My partner on our 37ft sailboat. We recently took a ‘sea’-battical to cruise over 7,000 miles around the Pacific Ocean.
Media Highlights
(News) The Conversation: How Congress turns citizens’ voices into data points
(Podcast) The Wealthy PhD: Knowing Your Worth in an Environment that Devalues Your Work
(School News) UC Irvine: Ph.D. Student Samantha McDonald Helps Us Better Connect with Congress
LINKS TO THINGS
Dissertation:
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