Dr. Antwi Akom is an urban technologist with an extensive background in collaborative, community-facing technology projects, designing for the public good, and developing new models of urban innovation in the 21st century that make cities and schools smarter, more equitable, just and sustainable. Dr. Akom is the Founding Director of the Social Innovation lab — a joint research lab between the University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco State University.
Currently Dr. Akom is a faculty member with UCSF’s Center for Vulnerable Populations (CVP) at San Francisco General Hospital, where he researches and deploys new health information communication technologies that improve health literacy, health care delivery, digital literacies, and promote equitable health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Prior to joining UCSF/CVP in 2016, Dr. Akom co-founded and launched a series of technology startups in the San Francisco Bay area, including, Streetwyze, which has been recognized by the White House, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Knight News Challenge, and Echoing Green, amongst others. Dr. Akom is also Co-Founder of the Institute for Sustainable Economic Educational and Environmental Design, an award-winning community-based center for research, teaching and action.