Ariel Kennan (she/her) is a Fellow at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University, where she researches and advises on best practices for using design, data, and technology for improved social safety net outcomes. Ariel leads the Digital Benefits Network to support public interest practitioners working on the social safety net through generating insights, fostering collaboration, and sparking advocacy to advance the delivery of benefits and increase economic opportunity.

Ariel is a leader in service design, digital product development, and organizational strategy. She has worked in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors to drive change and deliver impactful solutions. Previously, she served in the New York City Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity where she founded the nation’s first municipal service design studio and managed a portfolio of best-in-class digital products to connect and deliver services. Most recently, she was the Director of Civic Innovation at Sidewalk Labs, where she led the strategy for inclusive participation in the social infrastructure of cities.

She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Integrated Design from Parsons School of Design. She is based in Brooklyn, New York.