Sofia Rodriguez

Sofia Rodriguez (they/them) currently serves as the Executive Director at the Paragon Policy Fellowship. Sofia first served as a Fellow in the Spring 2024 Cohort working on ethical standards for technology procurement for the City of Boston. They are also an undergraduate student at Hunter College, studying Applied Mathematics, Latino Studies, and Media Studies. Additionally, they serve as a Research Assistant at the Trustworthy, Intelligent, and Explainable Robotics (TIER) Lab under the guidance of Dr. Raj Korpan, investigating applications for automation and robotics in voting systems to increase election security through the lens of trust and safety.

In their current role, Sofia is now guiding a diverse team dedicated to reimagining how technology can serve the public interest in state and local governance to increase government capacity, especially for resource-constrained and traditionally marginalized communities. Seeking to build bridges between technology and human impact, Sofia hopes to pursue a career in research examining the intersection of civic innovation, political movements, federal technology procurement, and R&D investment, seeking to understand how technology innovation destabilizes Latin America.

Outside of work, Sofia volunteers as an VEX IQ judge/referee and supports broadening opportunities in adolescent STEM education in the Bronx. Sofia is also a member of BombaYo, a NYC-based Bomba-troupe that seeks to keep Puerto Rican history and culture alive through drum, dance, education, and community.