top of page

Dr. Aaron McKain, M.S.L.

Trainings & Workshops

For schools, companies, communities, advocates, artists, politicians, and churches.

Need to get your team fired up or back on track?

Give me an afternoon or a week and I'll make them the gold standard in your industry.

Or at least help them sleep better tonight.
 

Digital ethics, civics, and legal solutions
for teachers, lawyers, programmers,
policymakers, citizens, and advocates.

Simple.  Proven.  Bi-partisan.
 

ai ethics | disinformation | privacy I free speech vs. online hate

post-digital politics I bi-partisan coalition building

first amendment I academic & artistic freedom I encoded censorship

education innovation, entrepreneurship, & reform

WHAT DR. MCKAIN KNOWS

TECHNOLOGY ETHICS,

POLICY, AND LAW

ai ethics | disinformation | privacy I free speech vs. online hate

Compliance, ethics, policy, and legal solutions
for companies, lawyers, programmers, schools, 
politicians, citizens, and advocates.

Simple.  Proven.  Bi-partisan.
 

Compliance, ethics, policy, and legal solutions
for companies, lawyers, programmers, schools, 
politicians, citizens, and advocates.

Simple.  Proven.  Bi-partisan.
 

  • "Regulating Artificial Intelligence - Is Global Consensus Possible?
    Forbes. Sep 9, 2022

     

    Criminal Conviction By Algorithms Are
    Ruining Innocent Lives.
    ”  

    Omaha World Herald.  August 29, 2021
    w/ Thomas Freeman, and Libby Otto

     

    After Facebook Scandal, Local College Students Are Talking Issues of Big Tech.”  
    NBC KARE-11 Evening News (Minneapolis)

    NBC WTOL 11 (Toledo)
    NBC KHOU 11 (Houston)
    NBC KXTV  (Sacramento)

     7 November 2021
     

    Why Isn’t There Social Media Forgiveness?”  
    NBC KARE-11 Breaking the News. 
    Minneapolis:  13 September 2018


    “How To Protect Your Personal Info on Facebook.” 
    NBC KARE-11.  Breaking the News.

    Minneapolis:  21 March 2018 

    Digital Ethics and the Institute for Digital Humanity.” 
    Human Lawyer.  December 2021
    w/ Shea Sullivan and Aaron McKain

      

    "Institute for Digital Humanity, part 1.
    AI and YouMarch 28, 2022
    w/ Shea Sullivan and Hannah Grubbs

    "Institute for Digital Humanity, part 2.

    AI and You. April 4, 2022 
     

    “What is Digital Ethics.” 
    Our Black News.  May 2021
    w/ Julius Hernandez and Annelane Sallee.  

    "Creighton Prof To Talk Digital Literary At SXSW EDU.” 
    Omaha Daily Record.  February 18, 2022

    “NCU Technology Students Impacting Nation.’ 
    AG News.  December 12, 2021  

    "Aaron McKain: Pushing Students to be the Innovators of Tomorrow."

     Pipers in Depth.  (Hamline University.)
     Saint Paul, MN.   April 2017

     

    "Students Are Harnessing the Power of Digital Media to Problem-Solve and

    Strengthen Human Connection."
    Hamline University News.  July 2016

    news: print and tv

    podcasts:

    industry pr and community press:

  • Principles of Digital Law and Ethics
    CPI TechREG Chronicle.
     Special Issue on Machine Learning. Feb 2023
    w/ Thomas Freeman, Samson Hall

    "A Primer on Digital and Data Science Ethics.
    Nebraska Lawyer.  Sept/Oct 2022
    w/ Thomas Freeman, Samson Hall

    “Criminal Conviction By Algorithms  Are Ruining Innocent Lives.” 

     Omaha World Herald.  August 29, 2021
    w/ Thomas Freeman and Elizabeth Otto.   

     

    “The Legal Implications of Algorithmic Decision-Making.” 
    Nebraska Lawyer.  May/June 2020

    w/ Thomas Freeman and Samson Hall.


    As Technology Evolves, So Will the Law, and So Must Attorneys,
    Nebraska Lawyer. July/August 2019
    w/ Thomas Freeman 

    "Using the Lens of Narrative Theory to Rethink Digital Ethics"
    International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference. 
    Proceedings.  (Forthcoming)
    With Marci Exted and Thomas Freeman

    Winner: 
    Primeaux Award for Best  Paper
    (First Runner-Up)

  • "What Would Jesus Program?”

    Rhetoric Society of America.

    Portland, OR.  May 2020

    “Racist Robots: A Visual Primer on Understanding Algorithmic Bias.” 

    Midwest Business Administrative Association/Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business Joint Conference.

    With Tom Freeman and Dan Schneider. Chicago, IL.  March 2020

     

    “Rhetoric Versus the Robots II: The Ethics of Algorithmic Unreliability.” 

    International Society for the Study of Narrative.

    With Weston Cregut and Rebekah Winkel. New Orleans, LA.  March 2020

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Using Narrative Theory to Navigate Legal, Corporate, and Community Debates on Algorithmic Ethics.”

    Data, Law, and AI Ethics Research Colloquium. Washington and Lee School of Law.

    With Thomas Freeman.  Lexington, VA.  April 2019

    invited academic presentations and conferences

    “Using the Lens of Narrative Theory to Rethink Digital Ethics." 

    International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference. 

    With Marci Exted and Thomas Freeman.  October 2022

    Winner: Primeaux Best Paper Award.  (Runner-Up.)

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Using Narrative Theory to Reframe Health Data Sanctity.”  

    Inaugural Transatlantic Dialogue on Humanity and AI Regulation.

    Hosted by HEC Paris.  Paris, France.  May 2022
     

    Reported on in Forbes:  
    “Regulating Global Intelligence: Is Global Consensus Possible"
    September 9, 2022

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Using Narrative Theory to Forgive, Forget, and Re-Program Digital Dignity.” 

    Data, Law, and AI Ethics Research Colloquium.

    With Thomas Freeman.  Organizers: Indiana University, Virginia Tech,

    and University of Pennsylvania.  Online.  April 2022 

     

    “Triangulating Hate Speech and Free Speech in Algorithmic Environments.” 

    Indiana University.

    Bloomington, IN: April 2022  (Online.)

    “Algorithmic Unreliability: Narrative Theory, Digital Ethics,
    and The Constitutionality of Employment AI.” 

    Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business.

    With Thomas Freeman and Marci Exted. 

     Chicago, IL and Online:  March 2022

    “Redefining Digital Literary: Algorithms and You.”

    SXSW EDU.

    With Thomas Freeman, Ayin Morales-Monge, and Shea Sullivan.  March 2022

    Winner of online voting competition to present.

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Forgiveness and Student Data After Mahoney.”

    International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference: DePaul University. 

    With Thomas Freeman, Simon Truatman, and Amanda Aherns.  Chicago, IL: October 2021

     

    “Algorithmic Bias: How Cross Functional Networks Can Fight Digitized Discrimination.”

    Heider Business Symposium: Creighton University. 

    With Dr. Aaron McKain, Thomas Freeman, Elizabeth Otto, Ayin Monge, and Julius Hernandez. Omaha, NE.  October 2021

     

    “Reckoning With Robots; The Constitutional Implications of Using Algorithms to Make Human Decisions.”

    Midwest Associate of Legal Studies in Business/Midwest Business Administration Association Annual Conference.

    With Thomas Freeman.  Chicago, IL: March 2021

     

    “Digital Ethics: What’s Next?”

    OSTROM Workshop.  Indiana University School of Business. 

    With Julius Hernandez and Shea Sullivan. Bloomington, IN: February 2021
     

    “A Taxonomy of Algorithmic Unreliability: Using Facial Recognition to Map Constitutional Issues.”

    Data, Law, and AI Ethics Research Colloquium. Indiana University & Virginia Tech University.

    Online (COVID): May 2020
     

    “Racist Robots?  A Visual Primer on Understanding Algorithmic Bias.” 

    Midwest Associate of Legal Studies in Business/Midwest Business Administration Association Annual Conference.

    With Thomas Freeman, Ayin Monge-Morales, and Moises Morales.  March 2020

    “Rhetoric Versus the Robots: Mapping the Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Algorithmic Discrimination.”

    Consortium for the Study of Religion, Ethics and Society at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

    Bloomington, IN. November 2019


    “Why Digital Rights Is The New Civil Rights Movement.” 

    North Carolina A & T State University.

    Greensboro, NC: May 2018
     

    “What Norm MacDonald and Narrative Theory Can Teach Us

    About Social Media Privacy Big Data Reasoning.”

    Hamline University.

    Saint Paul, MN.  April 2017

    (In conjunction w/ exhibition for World Press Freedom Day.)

    competitive academic conferences & workshops

  • “Algorithmic Bias in the Criminal Justice System: Cheat Codes for Defense  Attorneys.” 
    Minnesota Legal Rights Center.  Workshop.
    With Marci Exted and Tom Freeman. 
    Fall 2022

    “Technology Inclusivity in Online Dispute Resolution.”

    American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Technology Expo.
    With Angie Raymond and Isak NitAsare.

    Online.  July 2021
     

    “Internet Security and Cyberbullying Prevention Workshop.” 

    Little Earth Native Community.

    Minneapolis, MN.  April 2019 
    Funded By: Minnesota Health and Human Services.

     

    “Plugging In: Race, Technology, and Surveillance Workshop for Advocates and Educators.”

    Northeast Sculpture Gallery: Minneapolis, MN.  October 2021 

    With ACLU MN, Safety Not Surveillance, Reclaim the Block, Councilman Simon Trautmann (Richfield, MN), and Councilman Steve Fletcher (Minneapolis, MN).
     

    “Digital Rights Are Civil Rights: Race and Technology.”

    Juried International Art Exhibition and Community Education Event

    Minneapolis MN and Online: February 2021

    With the Institute for Digital Humanity, Institute for Aesthetic Advocacy, ACLU MN, Native Youth Arts Collective, and Councilman Steve Fletcher. 

    “Y2K16.”

    Student Art Installation on Digital Ethics

    Hamline University. Saint Paul, MN. December 2016

    Saint Paul, MN. May 2016

  • Catalyzes civic engagement and curate under-served community voices by translating complex issues into easy-to-understand:
     

    • Local, national, and international art exhibitions and installations;

    • Academic research and publications;

    • Educational materials for attorneys, teachers; citizens, and advocates.

      Our own body of work is motivated by the same goals that guide our exhibitions of other artists' work.  We want to use aesthetic experiences as a means of engaging the general public with digital and biomedical harms that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye or too bogged down in esoteric jargon.

  • Ask a question

    Change the text to include your own content. Adjust the font, size or scale to customize the style.

POST-DIGITAL POLITICS &
BIPARTISAN COALITION BUILDING

ACLU MINNESOTA
  ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE 
LITTLE EARTH NATIVE HUD COMMUNITY 
CODED BIAS (NETFLIX)   
BYTES MEDIA

TAKE ACTION MINNESOTA
 MN LEGAL RIGHTS CENTER
CIVIC NEBRASKA 
 MN EQUAL JUSTICE RESEARCH CENTER
 MN DEPT. OF HEALTH

SAFETY NOT SURVEILLANCE
 GUNS DOWN, LOVE UP
 PROTECT MN

SECOND CHANCE COALITION 
 URBAN EDUCATORS
RECLAIM THE BLOCK
ACLU NEBRASKA 

EDUCATION AND TRAININGS
NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY
INDIANA UNIVERSITY: OSTROM WORKING GROUP 

 HAMLINE UNIVERSITY  

CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY
 UNIV OF WISCONSIN: LA CROSSE

 ST. PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS

IOWA BAR ASSOCIATION

 NEBRASKA BAR ASSOCIATION 
DIGITAL ARCHIVE OF LITERACY NARRATIVES
 NORTH SUBURBAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS 
NORTHEAST SCULPTURE GALLERY
 

MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
 STEVE FLETCHER

ABDI WARSAME 

LATRISHA VETAW

PHILIPE CUNNINGHAM 
 

SAINT PAUL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

MITRA JILALI 

NELSIE YANG 

RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
SIMON TRAUTMANN

MINNESOTA STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES & SENATORS

 PEGGY SCOTT 

  SCOTT LUCERO 

DR. STEVE JENSEN 

JEREMY MUNSON 
 

  • "Regulating Artificial Intelligence - Is Global Consensus Possible?
    Forbes. Sep 9, 2022

     

    Criminal Conviction By Algorithms Are
    Ruining Innocent Lives.
    ”  

    Omaha World Herald.  August 29, 2021
    w/ Thomas Freeman, and Libby Otto

     

    After Facebook Scandal, Local College Students Are Talking Issues of Big Tech.”  
    NBC KARE-11 Evening News (Minneapolis)

    NBC WTOL 11 (Toledo)
    NBC KHOU 11 (Houston)
    NBC KXTV  (Sacramento)

     7 November 2021
     

    Why Isn’t There Social Media Forgiveness?”  
    NBC KARE-11 Breaking the News. 
    Minneapolis:  13 September 2018


    “How To Protect Your Personal Info on Facebook.” 
    NBC KARE-11.  Breaking the News.

    Minneapolis:  21 March 2018 

    Digital Ethics and the Institute for Digital Humanity.” 
    Human Lawyer.  December 2021
    w/ Shea Sullivan and Aaron McKain

      

    "Institute for Digital Humanity, part 1.
    AI and YouMarch 28, 2022
    w/ Shea Sullivan and Hannah Grubbs

    "Institute for Digital Humanity, part 2.

    AI and You. April 4, 2022 
     

    “What is Digital Ethics.” 
    Our Black News.  May 2021
    w/ Julius Hernandez and Annelane Sallee.  

    "Creighton Prof To Talk Digital Literary At SXSW EDU.” 
    Omaha Daily Record.  February 18, 2022

    “NCU Technology Students Impacting Nation.’ 
    AG News.  December 12, 2021  

    "Aaron McKain: Pushing Students to be the Innovators of Tomorrow."

     Pipers in Depth.  (Hamline University.)
     Saint Paul, MN.   April 2017

     

    "Students Are Harnessing the Power of Digital Media to Problem-Solve and

    Strengthen Human Connection."
    Hamline University News.  July 2016

    news: print and tv

    podcasts:

    industry pr and community press:

  • Principles of Digital Law and Ethics
    CPI TechREG Chronicle.
     Special Issue on Machine Learning. Feb 2023
    w/ Thomas Freeman, Samson Hall

    "A Primer on Digital and Data Science Ethics.
    Nebraska Lawyer.  Sept/Oct 2022
    w/ Thomas Freeman, Samson Hall

    “Criminal Conviction By Algorithms  Are Ruining Innocent Lives.” 

     Omaha World Herald.  August 29, 2021
    w/ Thomas Freeman and Elizabeth Otto.   

     

    “The Legal Implications of Algorithmic Decision-Making.” 
    Nebraska Lawyer.  May/June 2020

    w/ Thomas Freeman and Samson Hall.


    As Technology Evolves, So Will the Law, and So Must Attorneys,
    Nebraska Lawyer. July/August 2019
    w/ Thomas Freeman 

    "Using the Lens of Narrative Theory to Rethink Digital Ethics"
    International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference. 
    Proceedings.  (Forthcoming)
    With Marci Exted and Thomas Freeman

    Winner: 
    Primeaux Award for Best  Paper
    (First Runner-Up)

  • "What Would Jesus Program?”

    Rhetoric Society of America.

    Portland, OR.  May 2020

    “Racist Robots: A Visual Primer on Understanding Algorithmic Bias.” 

    Midwest Business Administrative Association/Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business Joint Conference.

    With Tom Freeman and Dan Schneider. Chicago, IL.  March 2020

     

    “Rhetoric Versus the Robots II: The Ethics of Algorithmic Unreliability.” 

    International Society for the Study of Narrative.

    With Weston Cregut and Rebekah Winkel. New Orleans, LA.  March 2020

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Using Narrative Theory to Navigate Legal, Corporate, and Community Debates on Algorithmic Ethics.”

    Data, Law, and AI Ethics Research Colloquium. Washington and Lee School of Law.

    With Thomas Freeman.  Lexington, VA.  April 2019

    invited academic presentations and conferences

    “Using the Lens of Narrative Theory to Rethink Digital Ethics." 

    International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference. 

    With Marci Exted and Thomas Freeman.  October 2022

    Winner: Primeaux Best Paper Award.  (Runner-Up.)

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Using Narrative Theory to Reframe Health Data Sanctity.”  

    Inaugural Transatlantic Dialogue on Humanity and AI Regulation.

    Hosted by HEC Paris.  Paris, France.  May 2022
     

    Reported on in Forbes:  
    “Regulating Global Intelligence: Is Global Consensus Possible"
    September 9, 2022

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Using Narrative Theory to Forgive, Forget, and Re-Program Digital Dignity.” 

    Data, Law, and AI Ethics Research Colloquium.

    With Thomas Freeman.  Organizers: Indiana University, Virginia Tech,

    and University of Pennsylvania.  Online.  April 2022 

     

    “Triangulating Hate Speech and Free Speech in Algorithmic Environments.” 

    Indiana University.

    Bloomington, IN: April 2022  (Online.)

    “Algorithmic Unreliability: Narrative Theory, Digital Ethics,
    and The Constitutionality of Employment AI.” 

    Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business.

    With Thomas Freeman and Marci Exted. 

     Chicago, IL and Online:  March 2022

    “Redefining Digital Literary: Algorithms and You.”

    SXSW EDU.

    With Thomas Freeman, Ayin Morales-Monge, and Shea Sullivan.  March 2022

    Winner of online voting competition to present.

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Forgiveness and Student Data After Mahoney.”

    International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference: DePaul University. 

    With Thomas Freeman, Simon Truatman, and Amanda Aherns.  Chicago, IL: October 2021

     

    “Algorithmic Bias: How Cross Functional Networks Can Fight Digitized Discrimination.”

    Heider Business Symposium: Creighton University. 

    With Dr. Aaron McKain, Thomas Freeman, Elizabeth Otto, Ayin Monge, and Julius Hernandez. Omaha, NE.  October 2021

     

    “Reckoning With Robots; The Constitutional Implications of Using Algorithms to Make Human Decisions.”

    Midwest Associate of Legal Studies in Business/Midwest Business Administration Association Annual Conference.

    With Thomas Freeman.  Chicago, IL: March 2021

     

    “Digital Ethics: What’s Next?”

    OSTROM Workshop.  Indiana University School of Business. 

    With Julius Hernandez and Shea Sullivan. Bloomington, IN: February 2021
     

    “A Taxonomy of Algorithmic Unreliability: Using Facial Recognition to Map Constitutional Issues.”

    Data, Law, and AI Ethics Research Colloquium. Indiana University & Virginia Tech University.

    Online (COVID): May 2020
     

    “Racist Robots?  A Visual Primer on Understanding Algorithmic Bias.” 

    Midwest Associate of Legal Studies in Business/Midwest Business Administration Association Annual Conference.

    With Thomas Freeman, Ayin Monge-Morales, and Moises Morales.  March 2020

    “Rhetoric Versus the Robots: Mapping the Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Algorithmic Discrimination.”

    Consortium for the Study of Religion, Ethics and Society at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

    Bloomington, IN. November 2019


    “Why Digital Rights Is The New Civil Rights Movement.” 

    North Carolina A & T State University.

    Greensboro, NC: May 2018
     

    “What Norm MacDonald and Narrative Theory Can Teach Us

    About Social Media Privacy Big Data Reasoning.”

    Hamline University.

    Saint Paul, MN.  April 2017

    (In conjunction w/ exhibition for World Press Freedom Day.)

    competitive academic conferences & workshops

  • “Algorithmic Bias in the Criminal Justice System: Cheat Codes for Defense  Attorneys.” 
    Minnesota Legal Rights Center.  Workshop.
    With Marci Exted and Tom Freeman. 
    Fall 2022

    “Technology Inclusivity in Online Dispute Resolution.”

    American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Technology Expo.
    With Angie Raymond and Isak NitAsare.

    Online.  July 2021
     

    “Internet Security and Cyberbullying Prevention Workshop.” 

    Little Earth Native Community.

    Minneapolis, MN.  April 2019 
    Funded By: Minnesota Health and Human Services.

     

    “Plugging In: Race, Technology, and Surveillance Workshop for Advocates and Educators.”

    Northeast Sculpture Gallery: Minneapolis, MN.  October 2021 

    With ACLU MN, Safety Not Surveillance, Reclaim the Block, Councilman Simon Trautmann (Richfield, MN), and Councilman Steve Fletcher (Minneapolis, MN).
     

    “Digital Rights Are Civil Rights: Race and Technology.”

    Juried International Art Exhibition and Community Education Event

    Minneapolis MN and Online: February 2021

    With the Institute for Digital Humanity, Institute for Aesthetic Advocacy, ACLU MN, Native Youth Arts Collective, and Councilman Steve Fletcher. 

    “Y2K16.”

    Student Art Installation on Digital Ethics

    Hamline University. Saint Paul, MN. December 2016

    Saint Paul, MN. May 2016

FREE SPEECH & THE FIRST AMENDMENT

first amendment I academic & artistic freedom I encoded censorship

I speak speak higher education, First Amendment law, & digital ethics fluently.
 

Whether you are trying to fix post-digital free speech and higher ed from the outside-in or the inside-out, the stakes are too high for this to be your first rodeo.

  • "Regulating Artificial Intelligence - Is Global Consensus Possible?
    Forbes. Sep 9, 2022

     

    Criminal Conviction By Algorithms Are
    Ruining Innocent Lives.
    ”  

    Omaha World Herald.  August 29, 2021
    w/ Thomas Freeman, and Libby Otto

     

    After Facebook Scandal, Local College Students Are Talking Issues of Big Tech.”  
    NBC KARE-11 Evening News (Minneapolis)

    NBC WTOL 11 (Toledo)
    NBC KHOU 11 (Houston)
    NBC KXTV  (Sacramento)

     7 November 2021
     

    Why Isn’t There Social Media Forgiveness?”  
    NBC KARE-11 Breaking the News. 
    Minneapolis:  13 September 2018


    “How To Protect Your Personal Info on Facebook.” 
    NBC KARE-11.  Breaking the News.

    Minneapolis:  21 March 2018 

    Digital Ethics and the Institute for Digital Humanity.” 
    Human Lawyer.  December 2021
    w/ Shea Sullivan and Aaron McKain

      

    "Institute for Digital Humanity, part 1.
    AI and YouMarch 28, 2022
    w/ Shea Sullivan and Hannah Grubbs

    "Institute for Digital Humanity, part 2.

    AI and You. April 4, 2022 
     

    “What is Digital Ethics.” 
    Our Black News.  May 2021
    w/ Julius Hernandez and Annelane Sallee.  

    "Creighton Prof To Talk Digital Literary At SXSW EDU.” 
    Omaha Daily Record.  February 18, 2022

    “NCU Technology Students Impacting Nation.’ 
    AG News.  December 12, 2021  

    "Aaron McKain: Pushing Students to be the Innovators of Tomorrow."

     Pipers in Depth.  (Hamline University.)
     Saint Paul, MN.   April 2017

     

    "Students Are Harnessing the Power of Digital Media to Problem-Solve and

    Strengthen Human Connection."
    Hamline University News.  July 2016

    news: print and tv

    podcasts:

    industry pr and community press:

  • Principles of Digital Law and Ethics
    CPI TechREG Chronicle.
     Special Issue on Machine Learning. Feb 2023
    w/ Thomas Freeman, Samson Hall

    "A Primer on Digital and Data Science Ethics.
    Nebraska Lawyer.  Sept/Oct 2022
    w/ Thomas Freeman, Samson Hall

    “Criminal Conviction By Algorithms  Are Ruining Innocent Lives.” 

     Omaha World Herald.  August 29, 2021
    w/ Thomas Freeman and Elizabeth Otto.   

     

    “The Legal Implications of Algorithmic Decision-Making.” 
    Nebraska Lawyer.  May/June 2020

    w/ Thomas Freeman and Samson Hall.


    As Technology Evolves, So Will the Law, and So Must Attorneys,
    Nebraska Lawyer. July/August 2019
    w/ Thomas Freeman 

    "Using the Lens of Narrative Theory to Rethink Digital Ethics"
    International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference. 
    Proceedings.  (Forthcoming)
    With Marci Exted and Thomas Freeman

    Winner: 
    Primeaux Award for Best  Paper
    (First Runner-Up)

  • "What Would Jesus Program?”

    Rhetoric Society of America.

    Portland, OR.  May 2020

    “Racist Robots: A Visual Primer on Understanding Algorithmic Bias.” 

    Midwest Business Administrative Association/Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business Joint Conference.

    With Tom Freeman and Dan Schneider. Chicago, IL.  March 2020

     

    “Rhetoric Versus the Robots II: The Ethics of Algorithmic Unreliability.” 

    International Society for the Study of Narrative.

    With Weston Cregut and Rebekah Winkel. New Orleans, LA.  March 2020

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Using Narrative Theory to Navigate Legal, Corporate, and Community Debates on Algorithmic Ethics.”

    Data, Law, and AI Ethics Research Colloquium. Washington and Lee School of Law.

    With Thomas Freeman.  Lexington, VA.  April 2019

    invited academic presentations and conferences

    “Using the Lens of Narrative Theory to Rethink Digital Ethics." 

    International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference. 

    With Marci Exted and Thomas Freeman.  October 2022

    Winner: Primeaux Best Paper Award.  (Runner-Up.)

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Using Narrative Theory to Reframe Health Data Sanctity.”  

    Inaugural Transatlantic Dialogue on Humanity and AI Regulation.

    Hosted by HEC Paris.  Paris, France.  May 2022
     

    Reported on in Forbes:  
    “Regulating Global Intelligence: Is Global Consensus Possible"
    September 9, 2022

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Using Narrative Theory to Forgive, Forget, and Re-Program Digital Dignity.” 

    Data, Law, and AI Ethics Research Colloquium.

    With Thomas Freeman.  Organizers: Indiana University, Virginia Tech,

    and University of Pennsylvania.  Online.  April 2022 

     

    “Triangulating Hate Speech and Free Speech in Algorithmic Environments.” 

    Indiana University.

    Bloomington, IN: April 2022  (Online.)

    “Algorithmic Unreliability: Narrative Theory, Digital Ethics,
    and The Constitutionality of Employment AI.” 

    Midwest Academy of Legal Studies in Business.

    With Thomas Freeman and Marci Exted. 

     Chicago, IL and Online:  March 2022

    “Redefining Digital Literary: Algorithms and You.”

    SXSW EDU.

    With Thomas Freeman, Ayin Morales-Monge, and Shea Sullivan.  March 2022

    Winner of online voting competition to present.

     

    “Privacy 3.0: Forgiveness and Student Data After Mahoney.”

    International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference: DePaul University. 

    With Thomas Freeman, Simon Truatman, and Amanda Aherns.  Chicago, IL: October 2021

     

    “Algorithmic Bias: How Cross Functional Networks Can Fight Digitized Discrimination.”

    Heider Business Symposium: Creighton University. 

    With Dr. Aaron McKain, Thomas Freeman, Elizabeth Otto, Ayin Monge, and Julius Hernandez. Omaha, NE.  October 2021

     

    “Reckoning With Robots; The Constitutional Implications of Using Algorithms to Make Human Decisions.”

    Midwest Associate of Legal Studies in Business/Midwest Business Administration Association Annual Conference.

    With Thomas Freeman.  Chicago, IL: March 2021

     

    “Digital Ethics: What’s Next?”

    OSTROM Workshop.  Indiana University School of Business. 

    With Julius Hernandez and Shea Sullivan. Bloomington, IN: February 2021
     

    “A Taxonomy of Algorithmic Unreliability: Using Facial Recognition to Map Constitutional Issues.”

    Data, Law, and AI Ethics Research Colloquium. Indiana University & Virginia Tech University.

    Online (COVID): May 2020
     

    “Racist Robots?  A Visual Primer on Understanding Algorithmic Bias.” 

    Midwest Associate of Legal Studies in Business/Midwest Business Administration Association Annual Conference.

    With Thomas Freeman, Ayin Monge-Morales, and Moises Morales.  March 2020

    “Rhetoric Versus the Robots: Mapping the Legal and Ethical Dimensions of Algorithmic Discrimination.”

    Consortium for the Study of Religion, Ethics and Society at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

    Bloomington, IN. November 2019


    “Why Digital Rights Is The New Civil Rights Movement.” 

    North Carolina A & T State University.

    Greensboro, NC: May 2018
     

    “What Norm MacDonald and Narrative Theory Can Teach Us

    About Social Media Privacy Big Data Reasoning.”

    Hamline University.

    Saint Paul, MN.  April 2017

    (In conjunction w/ exhibition for World Press Freedom Day.)

    competitive academic conferences & workshops

  • “Algorithmic Bias in the Criminal Justice System: Cheat Codes for Defense  Attorneys.” 
    Minnesota Legal Rights Center.  Workshop.
    With Marci Exted and Tom Freeman. 
    Fall 2022

    “Technology Inclusivity in Online Dispute Resolution.”

    American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Technology Expo.
    With Angie Raymond and Isak NitAsare.

    Online.  July 2021
     

    “Internet Security and Cyberbullying Prevention Workshop.” 

    Little Earth Native Community.

    Minneapolis, MN.  April 2019 
    Funded By: Minnesota Health and Human Services.

     

    “Plugging In: Race, Technology, and Surveillance Workshop for Advocates and Educators.”

    Northeast Sculpture Gallery: Minneapolis, MN.  October 2021 

    With ACLU MN, Safety Not Surveillance, Reclaim the Block, Councilman Simon Trautmann (Richfield, MN), and Councilman Steve Fletcher (Minneapolis, MN).
     

    “Digital Rights Are Civil Rights: Race and Technology.”

    Juried International Art Exhibition and Community Education Event

    Minneapolis MN and Online: February 2021

    With the Institute for Digital Humanity, Institute for Aesthetic Advocacy, ACLU MN, Native Youth Arts Collective, and Councilman Steve Fletcher. 

    “Y2K16.”

    Student Art Installation on Digital Ethics

    Hamline University. Saint Paul, MN. December 2016

    Saint Paul, MN. May 2016

EDUCATION INNOVATION, ENTREPRENUERSHIP, & REFORM

Whether working as a professor, a Director of a School, or a speechwriter for Time Magazine's  "University President of the Year,"  Dr. McKain has spent twenty years revolutionizing his (sometimes not so small) corners of higher education.​

Digital Rights are Civil Rights: Race and Tech

International juried art exhibition and civic forum.
Minneapolis, MN and online.  February 2021.

The murder of George Floyd made it clear to the world that systemic racism is a life or death issue for people of color in our country.  This issue has only become more pressing in light of recent technological developments:  racist facial recognition software; predictive policing programs that target minorities;  and discriminatory algorithms (in employment, healthcare, education, and criminal justice) that violate our privacy, threaten free speech, and replace human judgment with encoded systemic inequity.

Thank you to our partners;

ACLU MN; Native Youth Arts Collective; North Central University; the Institute for Digital Humanity; the POSTME Coalition; and City Councilman Steve Fletcher. 

bottom of page