Michael Skirpan is a computing ethicist, educator, and writer whose work focuses on technology ethics, community empowerment, and public communication. He is based in CMU’s Software and Societal Systems and Electrical and Computer Engineering Departments where he manages courses and curriculum that teach practical ethics to technical students. He is the lead instructor for 17-200, Ethics & Policy Issues in Computing, a foundational course for critical thinking, analysis, and collaborative skills the integrate ethics into engineering practice.

Research areas where he stays engaged include effective pedagogical methods for teaching ethics, governance and auditing approaches to AI and data-driven computing systems, public communication strategies, and modeling risks and mindsets related to contemporary engineering practices.

Outside of CMU he is the co-founder and executive director of Community Forge, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit with a mission creating models for equitable economic development that address the resource silos and segregation that lead to inequity.

As a writer, he develops science fiction that elucidates challenges presented to people and communities due to technological adoption and transition. His award-winning play, Project Amelia, was an immersive experience that took audience through hands-on ethical challenges of AI and data privacy, exploring perspectives and working with others to determine what an ethical future looks like.

His work and impacts have been recognized nationally including features in top computer science journals and speaking in front institutions such as the Brookings Metropolitan Council. He has advised, spoken to, and trained teams for large and small companies and government stakeholders on technology ethics. He is also a proud husband and father of 2 amazing boys.