Bonnie Ervin

Bonnie Ervin is an interdisciplinary researcher whose work explores how emerging technologies shape institutions, public services, and democratic participation, with a particular focus on governance, accountability, and public-interest technology.

She is currently a PhD Candidate in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology and holds an International Doctoral Certificate in Responsible Innovation through Arizona State University, Delft University of Technology, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Her research examines how digital and AI-enabled systems remain governable, accountable, and responsive within complex institutional and social environments.

Drawing on a professional background that spans direct service, community engagement, program development, and higher education, Ervin brings a practice-informed perspective to questions of technology governance and public policy. Her work focuses on participatory governance, public-interest technology, democratic deliberation, institutional trust, and the social dimensions of emerging technologies. She is particularly interested in how the design and implementation of digital systems shape access, accountability, and lived experiences for individuals navigating public services.

As a Doctoral Research Associate in the EDSON-Ross Lab and formerly a Graduate Student Research Associate with the Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes (CSPO), Ervin has designed and facilitated participatory technology assessment workshops and community engagement initiatives that bring diverse stakeholders into conversations about technological change. Her research explores how public reasoning, frontline expertise, and community knowledge can inform the governance of emerging technologies and digital service systems. She has contributed to qualitative and mixed-methods studies examining institutional accountability, digital mediation, and the challenges that arise when technology becomes embedded in public and social service environments.

Ervin's scholarship bridges theory and practice, with current projects addressing participatory technology assessment, democratic oversight of technology, digital public services, and the hidden labor required to navigate increasingly digitized systems. Her presentations and invited talks have addressed topics including artificial intelligence and the future of work, technology access and equity, governance of emerging technologies, and the role of frontline workers in mediating digital systems. Through this work, she seeks to advance approaches to innovation that are responsive to public values and grounded in the needs of communities.

Prior to her doctoral work, Ervin earned both her Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degrees from Arizona State University and served in multiple teaching, mentorship, field education, and research roles. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to empowering underserved populations, strengthening community engagement, and creating pathways for meaningful civic participation in the development and governance of technology.

Outside of her academic work, Ervin enjoys painting, writing, spending time outdoors with family, and watching her favorite teams, Sawblaze and WitchDoctor on BattleBots.