Jordan Adjepong is an incoming first year Masters candidate in the International Science and Technology Policy program at the Elliott School, concentrating in Technology Innovation Management and Policy. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Johnson & Wales University in 2020. He is specifically interested in the intersections of international affairs and technology policy and how it can be leveraged to create consumer friendly regulations of emerging technologies without stifling innovation. Jordan is currently working as a state and local government relations analyst for MoneyGram International, where he finds himself advocating state legislators for regulated use of MoneyGram’s money transfer and cryptocurrency services. Jordan has experience conducting legislative research for a D.C. based bipartisan lobbying firm, supporting an array of social media, semiconductor, telecommunications, and other tech based clients. He has also served as a KIPP Policy fellow where he had the opportunity to intern on Capitol Hill for a summer for Senator Chris Murphy’s office. Jordan is a native of Newark, New Jersey and enjoys playing piano, spending time with friends, going on distance runs, and watching the Brooklyn Nets (when they’re not losing).
What has been your most rewarding academic or professional experience so far?
My most rewarding experience professionally has always been interning for the Sheldon Whitehouse for Senate Re-Election Campaign of 2018. At this time, I was a second year at Johnson & Wales University and I didn’t have much experience working in a campaign or for a U.S. Senator. My most memorable moments were traveling throughout the state of Rhode Island, engaging in thoughtful discussions with constituents, and attending events where other notable Democratic leaders were present. I had the opportunity to meet then-Governor of Rhode Island Gina Raimondo, former DNC Chair Tom Perez, and then-Vice-President Joe Biden. The campaign staff I worked with, made the experience worthwhile as well. I learned so much from them. It was through this experience, I became passionate about advocacy and government.
What made you interested in the International Science and Technology Policy program?
I was interested in the Elliott School’s International Science and Technology Policy program because I want to master the art of advocating for consumer and industry friendly regulation of emerging technologies. My interest in science and technology policy began when I started working as a Legislative Assistant for Kountoupes, Denham, Carr & Reid, a D.C. based lobbying firm, where I enhanced my research skills and knowledge of tech industry specific policy. That experience has shaped my passion for policy. Now, I look forward to using my skills to embark on my academic and research interests in AI, data privacy, crypto, and how it influences the global economy and diplomacy. I firmly believe that AI, big tech companies, and cryptocurrency are areas that should be regulated and require some form of international standardization.
If you could be a paid intern anywhere in DC during your program, where would you want to intern and why?
If I was not already working full time during my program, I think I would want to intern for the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) under the Department of Commerce. One of the major functions of NIST is to create a more secure environment for the government and U.S. companies by setting risk management standards for cybersecurity, privacy, artificial intelligence, and more. As an intern, I would love to learn more about how leaders at NIST develop these standards and frameworks and what thought process goes into making them. They have so many different programs within the agency that focus on climate, infrastructure, and supply chains, which the agency conducts a lot of research to ensure that the U.S. is one step ahead of its competitors in safeguarding innovation. NIST is also one of the agencies where I see myself bringing a new set of expertise in order to help create a safer and secure environment for U.S. critical technologies.
Why did you choose to commit to the Elliott School for your graduate program?
I chose to commit to the Elliott School because it served as the only institution where I could pursue both science and technology policy and international relations. Being that I would like to serve as a “translator” of tech policy to both government and industry, both foreign and domestic, the Elliott School’s ISTP program serves as a great intersection of the two disciplines. As someone who is also very interested in the developments of artificial intelligence and machine learning, I saw that pursuing further education to learn more about the topic is necessary, especially in an environment where such advanced technology is lightly regulated and could lead to serious consequences.
If you could donate unlimited funds to any cause, what would it be and why?
If I had unlimited funds to donate, I would want to direct them towards a cause that would invest in educational institutions, economic hubs, youth empowerment centers, and more within the continent of Africa. There are many wealthy countries around the world that take resources within the continent for their own with the promise of little investment and do not invest in those same African countries. By 2050, the continent of Africa will be home to 2.5 billion people, so it is important that the rapidly growing young population has resources to invest in better infrastructure for hospitals, schools, roads/bridges, and energy in less developed countries on the continent. I would also donate to initiatives that encourage the use of a stablecoin, a cryptocurrency backed by a stable currency (gold or traditional currency), that would lead to a single transferable currency used by all African countries. This would boost trade and economic development on the continent and make countries rely less on foreign investment.
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The #IncomingElliott profile series is managed by the Elliott School Office of Graduate Admissions and highlights newly enrolling students to answer common questions posed by prospective and current students. For more information on this series or to submit questions, e-mail the Office of Graduate Admissions at esiagrad@gwu.edu.
The views expressed by students profiled do not necessarily represent those of organizations they work for, are affiliated with, or the Elliott School of International Affairs.
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