Alexander Wilhelm

Alex is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at Purdue University, specializing in International Relations and Public Policy, with an emphasis on Big Tech governance. In particular, he considers the interplay between the public salience of issues and geopolitical pressures in determining the self-governance of technology companies. This research considers AI as one of the many issue areas where these actors interact. Alex applies a multi-method approach to his research; he is skilled in experimental methods, qualitative process tracing, and discourse analysis. Alex’s background is in education, having served as an 8th grade mathematics teacher for five years before going to graduate school. He has been recognized for his instruction at Purdue through departmental accolades and as the sole Purdue graduate student nominated for the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award sponsored by the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools.