Media Lab alum Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Legal Defense Fund (LDF). 

Buolamwini’s pioneering work on algorithmic bias — including the landmark "Gender Shades" study conducted during her time at the Media Lab — has influenced global conversations about equitable AI and prompted industry-wide reforms. She is also the author of the bestselling book Unmasking AI, and a recent member of the inaugural Accelerator Fellowship Programme at the University of Oxford’s Institute for Ethics in AI.

Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund is the nation’s first civil rights law organization and continues to advance racial justice through litigation, research, and advocacy. As a new board member, Buolamwini will contribute her expertise on digital equity, AI accountability, and the civil rights implications of emerging technologies.