Pitt’s Lisa Nelson is the new co-director of the Collaboratory Against Hate

Lisa Nelson, associate professor in Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and Center for Philosophy of Science fellow was named co-director of the Collaboratory Against Hate, a joint effort between the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

“I hope that we can use the Collaboratory Against Hate and its research initiatives to better understand and combat the social, cultural and political causes of hate,” Nelson said.

In her new role, Nelson will work with co-director Mark Kamlet and executive director Susan Baida, both of Carnegie Mellon, to lead the strategy for the future of the Collaboratory. The team will oversee a steering committee and advisory board to grow and sustain partnerships while helping the group achieve its mission of applying an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to better understand and combat hatred based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation and other prejudices.

Nelson brings a wealth of experience in the field of science, technology and society. Her current research explores social networking technologies and considers fundamental questions about information ethics and its enforcement on the internet in an open society.

She is replacing outgoing co-director Kathleen Blee, who is the Bettye J. and Ralph E. Bailey Dean of the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

Photography by Elan Mizrahi Photography