Marybelle Cherfan | Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna

Bio

Marybelle Cherfan is a multidisciplinary PhD researcher in Global Politics, Human Rights, and Sustainability at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Italy. Her research explores the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, human rights, and governance, with a focus on rights-based safeguards and standardization in high-risk AI systems, particularly in electoral contexts. She serves as the Program Coordinator for the Master’s in Electoral Policy and Administration (MEPA), jointly implemented by Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, UNITAR, and International IDEA. In this role, she oversees a multilingual program offered in English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese, and leads curriculum development, outreach, and stakeholder engagement. Her work includes organizing high-level webinars on topics such as AI and elections, digital competencies for informed voting, and the impact of social media on democratic processes. Marybelle is also actively involved in international standardization efforts as a legal expert in AI governance and ethics, contributing to ISO SC42, CEN-CENELEC JTC21, and the Association of AI Ethicists. She also has over five years of experience designing and delivering training on Integrated Border Management, Disaster Risk Management, and the rights of vulnerable populations. She holds two Master’s degrees: one in Human Rights and Conflict Management from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna and another in Digital Economy and Data Science from Saint Joseph University, where she graduated valedictorian. Fluent in four languages, Marybelle brings a cross-disciplinary and globally engaged perspective to her academic and professional work.

Ricerca

Her doctoral research, titled "Rights-Based Firewalls: AI Governance for Electoral Integrity in the Lead-Up to Elections" focuses on leveraging AI within rights-based frameworks to safeguard democratic processes while addressing regulatory and ethical challenges.

Marybelle is also the co-author of "AI and Human Rights at the Frontlines of Humanitarian Crises: Towards a Rights-Based Integrated Border and Disaster Risk Management (IBDRM)," a study that investigates how AI can reinforce human rights safeguards and foster coordinated responses at the intersection of border management and disaster risk governance.

Corsi

Marybelle has lectured on International Strategic Management, Cross-Border Management, Development Studies, and Political Science at institutions including the EU Business School and London Metropolitan University. At Saint Joseph University, she designed and taught a course in Business Statistics using Excel, equipping students with hands-on data analysis skills tailored to real-world economic and business applications. Her teaching draws on her research in AI governance and rights-based frameworks, and she has delivered content in English, French, and Arabic, promoting inclusive and globally relevant learning environments.