Our Work

Building a Movement Rooted in Black Joy

At BTF Research Institute, we are building a movement rooted in Black joy and driven by the dream of a more just and freedom-centered tech future. Across the United States, we strengthen Black Tech Ecosystems by empowering communities, supporting institutions, and shaping policies that open doors to innovation. Our Black Tech Ecosystem Index helps us measure and improve the health of these ecosystems. At the same time, initiatives like Black Tech Policy Week, The Black Joy AI Summit, and Black Public Interest Technology training programs inspire action and transformation.

Globally, we are uniting historically disadvantaged institutions and communities through the Global Responsible Computing Network. Spanning seven countries—The US, Pakistan, South Africa, Colombia, Rwanda, the US Virgin Islands, and Kenya—we are setting global standards for responsible computing and fostering inclusive AI opportunities led by communities who are not often at the table for these discussions.

Together, we’re not just imagining a brighter future; we’re creating it—one rooted in possibility, purpose, and joy for Black communities and other historically marginalized groups worldwide.

Join us in this movement.

"Give light, and people will find the way" – Ella Baker

We stand on the shoulders of those who championed collective power—now let’s revolutionize the future together, with joy and purpose.

Meet the Team

Dr. Fallon Wilson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & FOUNDER
Dr. Fallon Wilson is the Founder and Executive Director of the #BlackTechFutures Research Institute. Her research and practice are building a global Black Public Interest Technology network of community organizers, historically disadvantaged higher education institutions, city-based researchers, and community anchor institutions. Dr. Wilson is also the Vice President of Tech Policy at the Multicultural Media, Telecom Internet Council, where she launched Black Churches 4 Digital Equity. She has launched many opportunities to support an inclusive AI future, including the NSF-funded 2024 Black Joy AI Summit: Building an Ethical Black AI Tech Ecosystem and co-launching an HBCU Responsible Computing Network. Dr. Wilson's research has won Webby Anthem Awards and has been used to brief US Congressional leaders. She has her BA from Spelman College and MA & PhD from the University of Chicago.
Michaela Henley

PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Michaela is a results-driven, service-minded professional committed to serving people and working towards social equity through programs for 14+ years. Michaela is the Program Director at #BlackTechFutures Research Institute [#BTF], researching the intersections of race, emerging technology, and policy. In her time at #BTF, Michaela has created the #BTF Public Interest Technology toolkit, building on the Institute’s Black Tech Ecosystem research. Michaela holds a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Georgetown University. She has also completed USF’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate Program.
Jurnell Cockhren, B.S.

INSTRUCTOR & LEAD RESEACHER
Jurnell Cockhren founded Civic Hacker LLC to drive positive social impact through research and technology development. Jurnell combines his work in Neuroscience and Astronomy with a passion for teaching and writing software. While working at the Vanderbilt Vision Research Center, he developed a talent for writing software to help researchers further understand the human visual and auditory systems. His contributions have landed in Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics and Child Psychology and Psychiatry. His article, “A common source of attention for auditory and visual tracking," received the 2018 Clifford T. Morgan Award from the Psychonomic Society.
Jurnell allies with vulnerable communities and advises The Kauffman Foundation, the Tennessee Asthma Coalition, and the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools as they seek to make a positive social impact. Jurnell moved to Nashville, Tennessee after receiving a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics from The University of the South: Sewanee. His affiliations include The Black Codes, Python Software Foundation, and Code for Nashville.
Tiauna Webb

CO-DIRECTOR OF BLACK PUBLIC INTEREST TECHNOLOGY
Tiauna Webb is the Co-Director of Black Public Interest Technology at the #BlackTechFutures Research Institute and the former Director of Missions and Programs at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference (SDPC) in Evanston, Illinois. At SDPC, she worked to mobilize the African American faith community in collaboration with civic, corporate, and philanthropic leaders to address critical human and social justice needs. Rev. Webb holds a Master's in International Development from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Divinity from the Chicago Theological Seminary.
Alexandria Dirl

POLICY & PROJECT MANAGER
Before joining the #BlackTechFutures Research Institute as the Policy and Project Manager, Alexandria was the Business Services Associate and Nashville Office Ambassador for Claritvate Analytics, a healthcare research company. While at Claritvate Analytics, Alexandria planned and executed all office events, developed Salesforce skills, provided office management, and served as executive assistant to senior leadership. Since joining the #BlackTechFutures Research Institute team, Alexandria has project-managed events such as Black Tech Policy Week and #BlackTechFutures’ Fall Regional Panels. Alexandria received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.