Title:Technology, Ethics, and Society Program

Developing ethical education to guide technology careers

• Launched thanks to a gift from a Silicon Valley alumnus
• Includes major, minor, and concentration in College of Arts & Sciences
• Unique interdisciplinary approach

As digital technology and artificial intelligence becomes more prominent in daily life, the need for an ethical framework is essential for future technologists, computer scientists, business leaders, and policy leaders. The Technology, Ethics, and Society (TES) program, housed within Georgetown’s College of Arts & Sciences, provides interdisciplinary education and opportunities to future tech leaders as they develop a foundation in both technology and ethics and social responsibility. 

The program was launched in Fall 2022 thanks to a $500,000 gift from an anonymous alumnus and Silicon Valley tech executive. The program has grown rapidly to offer a major, a minor, and a concentration track. 

“The TES program has made Georgetown a leading place to study, research, and influence our technological society,” says Laura DeNardis, professor and endowed chair in Technology, Ethics, and Society and director of the Center for Digital Ethics. 

TES faculty leaders, including DeNardis, have also launched The Center for Digital Ethics and conducted related research around Family Tech Ethics, AI Ethics, and Cybersecurity Ethics.  The program is also involved in Tech & Society Week, an annual cross-campus series that explores digital technology’s impact on the world. The TES program sponsored a number of events during Tech & Society Week, including a “Hoya AI” panel featuring prominent alumni in artificial intelligence. The program aims to help students imagine new ways to ensure technology serves human values. 

Given the growing role artificial intelligence is playing in society, Robert (C’62) and Alison Bertrand (Parents’05) recently established a Computer Science chair focused on artificial intelligence to facilitate research. 

“As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies reconfigure society, our interdisciplinary programs in Technology, Ethics, and Society are equipping Georgetown students to become the ethical leaders of the future across industry, policy, and every sector of our digital world,” says DeNardis. 

Advancing along with technology 

In addition to Bertrand, donors including Zack and Lisa Van Amburg (C’92, Parent’28), Kyle (L’96) and Rob Finizio (Parents’27), and Robert L. McDevitt (C’40) and Catherine H. McDevitt have enabled the program to grow, supporting faculty and staff, launching accelerator programs, and developing endowed educational chair positions.

In January 2026, Yoshi Kohno, the McDevitt Chair in Computer Science, Ethics, and Society, was recognized as a 2025 ACM Fellow by the Association for Computing Machinery. 

“We are quickly building a community of students, faculty, and alumni beyond the classroom, alerting students to jobs and internships, organizing special career panels and events, and hosting outside-the-classroom opportunities for student formation,” says DeNardis.