Welcoming Our New Staff

The Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy welcomes its first three staff members: Executive Director Alex Engler, Engagement and Policy Manager Alexis Frisbie, and Research Analyst Victoria Feng.

Alex Engler, Executive Director

Alex was most recently the Director for Democracy and Technology at the National Security Council, and before that the Assistant Director of AI Policy at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Before the White House, Alex was a fellow at the Brookings Institution and the Center for European Policy Studies, where he worked on AI policy and online platform governance. Previously, Alex spent ten years as a data scientist in policy research organizations and governments (the Urban Institute, Congress, DC local govt) and as teaching faculty in that space (at the University of Chicago and Georgetown University).

Alexis Frisbie, Engagement and Policy Manager

Alexis has extensive expertise in technology policy, especially combating foreign information manipulation that threatens democratic processes. She was previously a Foreign Affairs Officer and Senior Technology Advisor at the State Department for 6ish years, where she led on international technology challenges, private sector engagement, and coordination on emerging technology threats. Before State, Alexis worked in a variety of roles in security, democracy, and human rights issues. Alexis holds a B.A. in International Affairs from Lewis & Clark College and an M.A. in International Security from the University of Denver.

Victoria Feng, Research Analyst

Victoria Feng got her start as a journalist 8 years ago, and has now published in the New York Times, CNBC, and WIRED – that’s not counting her articles written during internships at Forbes, ABC News, and NBC News. Her reporting has focused on technology and its intersections with politics and culture. Victoria has also interned at the State Department, performed research with Penn Professor Victor Pickard, and put together a public media event with the Penn’s Kelly Writers House.