Hi! I’m Joan!

I’m a political theorist who specializes in feminism and emerging technologies. I received my PhD in Political Science in 2024 from Stanford University, and I’m currently an instructor at Harvard University teaching Social Studies.

While my research background is in feminism, I’ve recently pivoted to the governance of artificial intelligence. I’m interested in policies designed to combat human disempowerment in the long-term, as well as research on the informal institutions that might enable successful human flourishing in the AI age.

Previously, I worked at the intersection of sexuality, technology, and the law. You can find my relevant papers here, and read more about this project on the “Sex, Tech, and the Law” page on this website.

My dissertation was in the history of feminist political thought. In On Patriarchy: Origin Stories in Feminist Thought, I explored the various ways that feminist thinkers have “diagnosed” the problem of patriarchy, using their stories of how we got to this point to better understand where they think we ought to go from here. The project covered a wide range of thinkers, from the 14th to the 21st centuries. You can read more about my work here, and find a copy on Stanford’s website.

I love teaching, and have been lucky enough to teach fantastic students at a wide variety of institutions, including Stanford, Harvard, and Deep Springs College. Most recently, I taught a course on the Governance of Artificial Intelligence, which has been featured on the 80,000 hours upskilling recommendation list. I am always happy to help others with course design, and of course, welcome feedback too.

I also enjoy mentoring, so if you’re a former student looking to get in touch with me, please reach out!.