Benton Welcomes Colin Rhinesmith as New Senior Director of Research and Fellowships

Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Executive Director Adrianne B Furniss announced the appointment of Dr. Colin Rhinesmith as the organization’s new Senior Director of Research and Fellowships. Dr. Rhinesmith will find, secure, and manage a diverse cohort of fellows—researchers, advocates, and practitioners—and their projects supported by the newly created Marjorie & Charles Benton Opportunity Fund. In addition, Dr. Rhinesmith will continue the work of his current Benton fellowship, collecting research on digital equity ecosystems through the Benton Digital Equity Action Research (DEAR) fellows program being implemented in six US cities in partnership with local digital inclusion organizations. All of this work will aid Dr. Rhinesmith in the research and writing. Rhinesmith is affiliated with the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry, as a member of its Scholars Council. Previously, Rhinesmith was an Associate Professor in the School of Library and Information Science and Provost’s Faculty Fellow for Scholarship and Research at Simmons University. He was a Google Policy Fellow and an Adjunct Research Fellow with New America’s Open Technology Institute. He was also a Faculty Associate with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.