Maria Lungu

Maria Lungu is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia, focusing on predictive policing and digital tools in public administration. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Business Administration with a minor in Leadership from The University of Charleston. She earned her Juris Doctor from The University of Tennessee College of Law and a Master of Business Administration from Belmont University. She also earned a PhD from Florida Atlantic University.

Maria has gained valuable experience working in the misdemeanor trial division for the Metropolitan Public Defender’s Office in Nashville. Maria has also been a legal consultant at Stepping Stones International. She is currently a research team leader at the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Policy (CAIDP).

Maria’s research focuses on the intersection of law, public policy/administration, and artificial intelligence. Specifically, she examines the accuracy of risk assessment tools in criminal justice administration, emphasizing democratic principles of fairness and accountability. Her focus also includes the application of AI in policing and court systems, where she investigates AI usage to enhance decision-making processes, improve efficiency, and ensure justice. She also explores the sociopolitical implications of predictive policing in administrative processes and their impact on public opinion. Maria's work has been published in the Journal of AI Law and Regulation, the Review of Black Political Economy, Administrative Theory and Praxis, and the American Journal of Qualitative Research, among other journals.