Nafeesa D.

Background

About Nafeesa D.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of British Columbia and a Masters of Arts in Russian Affairs from the University of Toronto with a specialization in political science. My focus at the University of Toronto was in disinformation tactics over the decades to evaluate changes and consistencies in tactics. My major research project evaluated three case studies in a comparative analysis from the 1930s through to modern day. What I found was that effective disinformation tactics don't change; only technology does. My current research has covered numerous topics, including: • how disinformation tactics work in online media (social media, news media, etc.) • how media literacy training can build resilience towards disinformation • how to engage with different communities based on their grievances, fears, and other polarizing aspects in an empathetic and compassionate way I have conducted research with organizations in many countries, including Canada, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Brazil, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. The skills I bring to a specialization in online disinformation are multidisciplinary: • a strong, nuanced understanding of the geopolitics of the online information sphere • technical expertise on conducting both qualitative and quantitative research • a variety of experience with computing technology and software development, especially Agile methodologies • ability to liaise between technical and non-technical teams • experience with the full software development pipeline: creating user personas, designing and developing products, customization of products, iterative development, quality assurance Above all, I am a friendly, self-motivated, and hard-working individual - I give everything my all, am highly adaptable, and have a varying set of skills and interests to inform my perspective. I love working with people and I love helping others succeed. If you would like to get in touch with me to consult on your projects or provide insight to the field of disinformation, media literacy, or anything else on my profile, please send me a detailed message.