Alison Lee
Chief R&D Officer
The RIthm Project
Alison leads The Rithm Project's youth-centered research as well as emerging tech foresight to fuel a powerful generation deeply connected to humanity and adept at critically engaging with generative AI. An accomplished researcher, cognitive scientist, and product strategist, Alison’s spent her career studying and designing for belonging for youth. Her work spans from liberatory educational models, to examining and designing for safety and responsible AI at Meta and Instagram. Whether it’s been in scrappy start-up spaces, or at a FAANG, Alison’s cultivated a laser-focus on supporting youth thriving in a technology-rich world, translating research into real-world impacts on kids and communities. Alison holds a Ph.D in Cognitive Science in Education and Masters in Learning Analytics (ML in Education) from Columbia University. Outside of the education world, Alison is a community organizer, with a focus on API women and youth. Most recently, she helped develop an Asian American history curriculum for NJ high schools, and zoom-delivered women's self-defense classes for API women and elders during the pandemic.