From Student Advocacy to Open Source AI: A Trust Story | Katie Steen-James, Open Source Initiative

Trust is under pressure across higher education, public policy, and emerging technology, and Katie Steen-James has spent her career working right in the middle of it. In this episode, Katie joins Richard Roman, Ph.D. to share what she’s learned from years of policy advocacy, student lobbying, and institutional strategy, and why so many organizations struggle to connect with the people they serve. Katie reflects on how early experiences at the University of Missouri shaped her understanding of trust, why transparency matters more than polished messaging, and how personal stories can often move people more effectively than data alone. The conversation also turns to her new role at the Open Source Initiative, where she’s helping shape the future of open source AI at a time when definitions, standards, and incentives are all in flux. If you care about higher education, public trust, policy influence, or the future of AI, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at what it takes to build credibility in a divided world.