Dr. Marius Dorobantu (Research Fellow) is an Assistant Professor of Theology & Artificial Intelligence at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His award-winning doctoral dissertation at the University of Strasbourg (2020) explored the potential implications of strong artificial intelligence for theological anthropology. He is the co-editor of the Routledge volume, Perspectives on Spiritual Intelligence (2024). His first monograph – Artificial Intelligence and the Image of God: Are We More than Intelligent Machines? – is in press with Cambridge University Press.
Dorobantu holds a BS in Theology/Theological Studies from University of Bucharest, a Masters in Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies from Radboud University and a PhD in Theology, Ethics and the Challenges of Strong Artificial Intelligence at the University of Strasbourg.
Luke Drago (Contributing Fellow: Networking Team) is a senior advisor to Encode Justice — the world’s largest youth movement for safe, beneficial AI. He is a co-author of Encode Justice’s AI 2030, a globally scoped platform for AI policy action endorsed by world leaders, AI safety and ethics experts, academics, and organizations representing over 13,000 young people. He sits on the executive leadership team and the AI advisory board at Encode Justice. He is also the AI Governance Specialist at BlueDot Impact, where he designs and implements industry-leading courses on AI governance. Luke is an alumnus of the University of Oxford, where he earned his undergraduate degree in History & Politics. He currently lives in London, and is a native Charlottean.
Melanie Dzugan (Contributing Fellow: Networking Team) is a PhD Candidate studying Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary with Kutter Callaway. Her dissertation work “In(Formation): A Postconservative Theology of Information Flow” offers a theological interpretation of “conversion” that conserves the contextual integrity of communication norms for the sake of good formation. Said differently, information technologies should be implemented with the end goal of enacting good communication practices because communication, in this age especially, forms us as people in good community.
Melanie earned an MSc in Science and Religion from the University of Edinburgh and a BS in Science and Religion from Samford University. She has served in local church leadership, academic conference leadership, and lead small groups for Science, Theology, and Religion with Fuller and Caltech students. She currently resides in Northwest Arkansas with her husband, Nick, and little boy, Jack.
Dr. Justin Lester (Advisor) is a Co-Mentor for the Doctorate of Ministry Program at United Theological Seminary, an Adjunct Professor at American Baptist College, and the Pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in California. He focuses on the intersection of Faith and Technology, mainly Gamification and Artificial Intelligence and the ways they can practically be applied for sustainability and design. Lester holds a D.Min. from Boston University, M.Div. from Vanderbilt University, and an M.A. from Marquette University.
Beth Singler (Advisor) is the Assistant Professor in Digital Religion(s) at the University of Zurich. Her research focusses on the human, considering the religious, cultural, social, and ethical implications in developments in AI and robotics. Beth has spoken about her research at the Hay Festival as one of the Hay 30 to watch, as well as at New Scientist Live, Ars Electronica, the Edinburgh Science Festival, the Cheltenham Science Festival, the Science Museum, the Barbican, and has appeared several times on BBC Click and BBC Click Live. She has appeared on BBC Radio’s Start the Week, the Today Programme, Beyond Belief, Free Thinking, and the Sunday Programme, and presented a documentary on BBC Radio 4 for 40 Years of the Terminator. Singler holds a PhD in Social Anthropology of New Religious Movements and a MPhil in Theology and Religious Studies from Pembroke College, Cambridge University and a MA Hons (Cantab) in Theology and Religious Studies.
Rabbanit Sara Tillinger Wolkenfeld (Advisor) is the Chief Learning Officer at Sefaria, an online database and interface for Jewish texts. Sara is a member of Class Six of the Wexner Field Fellowship, and an alumna of the David Hartman Center at the Hartman Institute of North America. Sara also serves as Scholar-in-Residence at Ohev Sholom Congregation in Washington, DC. She writes about Jewish texts and Jewish law, and her current projects focus on applying Talmudic ideas to questions of advancements in digital technology.
