This month, we’re celebrating the leadership of 2017-2018 U.S. alum Nicole Bennett, a powerful voice working at the intersection of data, migration, and justice.
Now a PhD candidate in Geography at Indiana University, Nicole is digging deep into how digital systems, from biometric databases to AI tools, shape governance, mobility, and everyday life in the U.S. Her research asks big, urgent questions: How do data-driven systems categorize us? Who gets left out or surveilled? What happens when your “digital self” dictates your real-world access?
Her dissertation traces how algorithmic tools and state-run platforms impact migrants and marginalized communities, exposing the hidden architectures of exclusion and control. Nicole brings together insights from critical data studies, political geography, surveillance theory, and migration scholarship. She has published in academic journals and presented her research at conferences worldwide. And her work has reached far beyond the classroom, with features in publications like The Conversation and several podcasts.
When asked what being part of the GHC community means to her, Nicole shared:
“GHC shaped the way I approach complex challenges—not only through skill-building and cross-sector collaboration, but through the relationships I built with peers who continue to inspire, support, and challenge me. The alumni community reminds me that leadership is a shared practice, that health is deeply political, and that solidarity across borders and identities is essential to building a more just world.”
We couldn’t agree more. Nicole, thank you for showing us what bold, justice-centered leadership looks like in action.