Program Staff

Stuart Gannes brings a lifelong interest in learning and innovation to the position of Director of the Stanford Digital Vision Fellowship program. His career spans the disciplines of journalism, software publishing corporate research, and education. After graduating with a BA from the University of Michigan, Gannes received his Masters in Education and Social Policy at Harvard University. Working as a journalist in New York, he covered the field of higher education, and then moved to Time-Life Books where he edited numerous “How-to” books for popular audiences. Later, as Associate Editor at Discover and Fortune Magazines he covered science and technology and focused on the expanding use of computer technology in business and society at large. In 1988-89 Gannes was a journalism fellow at Stanford University. Afterward he remained in Silicon Valley and entered the computer industry, working for Mips Computer Systems, before founding a software company, called Books That Work, where he served as CEO and publisher.

Taking advantage of the increasing availability of powerful, low cost personal computers, Books That Work developed award-winning software tools that made it possible for non-professionals to design and visualize projects with 3-D graphics. Following the sale of the company in 1997, Gannes accepted a position as Vice President of Internet Applications for AT&T Labs in Menlo Park, California. At AT&T he was responsible for advanced development and service prototyping. Under his leadership, research scientists worked on a variety of practical projects, including wireless data services, e-mail clients, computer-based voice response systems, and authentication tools.
In early 2002 Gannes was recruited by Stanford University as the inaugural Director of the Digital Vision Program at the Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI). Over the past two and a half years the DV program has evolved from an independent fellowship experience to an integrated prototyping course that focuses on technology innovation and social entrepreneurship. The goal is to support the design and concept-testing and sustainability modeling of technology solutions that address humanitarian needs in the developing world. Digital Vision fellows draw on the resources of Stanford University, Silicon Valley, and the DV program to prototype innovative ICT-based products and services. Toward this mission they focus on a wide range of subjects, including technology assessment, regulatory policy, social entrepreneurship, sustainability models, program management skills and user interface models. In addition to offering DV fellows prototyping support, the nine-month DV program includes lectures, readings, case studies, seminars and workshops.

Beyond his duties at Stanford University, Gannes serves as Director of the Earthpledge Foundation in New York, whose ’sustainability’ initiatives highlight the connections between everyday choices, personal well-being and a healthy world. He is the proud father of three daughters.

Email: sgannes (at) stanford (dot) edu

Karen Coppock is the Director of Industry Collaboration for the Stanford Digital Vision Program. Karen has a diverse international background, including extensive experience in the high-tech industry, grass-roots economic development, and interdisciplinary research. Karen recently completed her doctoral research on collaborative business models to increase Internet usage in emerging markets (Mexico).

Prior to her doctorate, Karen spent four years with Telcordia, most recently as Assistant Vice President of Strategic Accounts, International. Before joining Telcordia, Karen launched and headed the Latin American regional sales office for Williams Communications. Karen has also held positions with INTELSAT, Pacific Bell, AT&T and Harvard’s Center for International Development (Information Technology Group). Karen is a member of the Graduate Student Committee for Stanford’s Social Innovation Review and an Affiliate of Harvard University’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society. She has published in leading academic journals and books.

Karen received her Doctoral and Master’s Degrees in international relations from the Fletcher School, Tufts University. She graduated cum laude in business administration and modern languages (Spanish) from California State University at Chico. Karen lived in Latin America for almost a decade, serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala and Uruguay from 1991-1994, and is fluent in Spanish.

Email: kcoppock (at) stanford (dot) edu

Edward Wiedemann joined the Digital Vision Program after working as an accounting specialist both for CSLI and SCIL programs for two years. He received his B.A. degree in Economics and International Relations from Claremont McKenna College, writing his senior thesis on Government Policies in the Brazilian Amazon. During college, he took a term abroad in Brazil, and attended the GSB Summer Institute at Stanford in 2005. In his free time Edward has volunteered as a development team member in former DV Fellow Melanie Edwards’ Mobile Media project, and plans to collaborate in former DV Fellow Saori Fotenos’s Let’s Blog project during the current academic year. He was also a member of the translation team of two volumes on Human Rights in Brazil, published in 2004 and 2005, which was sponsored by the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

In addition, Edward has participated as a volunteer in the operations of several regional, national and international events, such as the 2006 II Symposium on the Teaching of Portuguese for Spanish Speakers, the 2005 Pacific Coast Classic, the 2004 NCAA Gymnastic Championships, the 2004 US Olympic Trials for Gymnastics, and the 2003 World Gymnastics Championship.

Email: ewied (at) stanford (dot) edu

Emily Wang joined the Digital Vision Program during the summer of 2005. She is a freshman at Stanford University and attended Palo Alto Senior High School. She plans to join the Peace Corps. before attending law school.

In her free time she enjoys playing the piano, longboarding, enjoying beautiful California weather and staying up late.

Email: dvf.intern (at) gmail (dot) com