The Virginia Tech Alumni Association has launched Hokies for Good, an event series celebrating exceptional members of the Hokie Nation who have dedicated their careers to humanity’s most pressing issues.

The inaugural edition of Hokies for Good was “Tech for Humanity,” whose premiere took place on November 16, 2020. This virtual panel discussion featured a trio of College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences faculty members who are at the forefront of Virginia Tech’s work in the intersection of the humanities and technologies.

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The panelists included:

  • Aaron Brantly, an assistant professor of political science at Virginia Tech. Brantly, whose interests span the political science and computer science divide, has worked on issues related to cybersecurity from multiple angles, including human rights and development, intelligence and national security, and military cybersecurity. He was recently named director of the Tech4Humanity Lab, an initiative that explores the influence of technology on humanity and the human condition.
  • Rebecca Hester, an assistant professor in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society. Her recent research examines contemporary accounts of “biological danger” and the social, political, and scientific implications of preempting, preventing, and eradicating such danger. Her courses at Virginia Tech include “The Foundations of Social Medicine” and “Monsters, Zombies, and Cyborgs.” She is currently developing a study-abroad experience focused on health in the Caribbean.
  • Sylvester Johnson, founding director of the Virginia Tech Center for Humanities. A professor in the Department of Religion and Culture, Johnson is a nationally recognized humanities scholar specializing in the study of technology, race, religion, and national security. He is also assistant vice provost for the humanities at Virginia Tech and executive director of the university’s Tech for Humanity initiative.