Lee Rainie Engages O’Neal Community in Conversation About Technology and the Future
Recently, O'Neal was honored to welcome Lee Rainie, Director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center at Elon University, for a day of learning and discussion focused on technology, artificial intelligence, and digital citizenship.
Mr. Rainie is one of the nation's leading researchers on technology, social media, and artificial intelligence. Before joining Elon in 2023, Rainie spent 24 years leading internet and technology research at the Pew Research Center, where he oversaw more than 850 studies exploring how emerging technologies shape society, education, work, and human relationships.
Rainie addressed Upper School students and members of the eighth grade during Morning Meeting, sharing insights from his distinguished career studying the impact of technology on society. Students explored topics ranging from social media and digital communication to artificial intelligence and the future of work, gaining valuable perspectives on how emerging technologies are shaping their lives and the world around them.
Following his presentation, Rainie joined a group of parents, faculty, and staff for a lunchtime roundtable discussion in the library. The informal session provided attendees with the opportunity to ask questions and engage in thoughtful conversations about technology's influence on young people, online behavior, media consumption, and preparing students for a rapidly changing digital future.
The visit was made possible through funding from the E.E. Ford Foundation and reflects O’Neal’s commitment to providing meaningful educational experiences that extend beyond the classroom. The School is grateful to Lee Rainie for sharing his expertise and helping students, parents, faculty, and staff better understand the opportunities and challenges of our increasingly connected world.
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