2025 Faculty Development Summer Institute (FDSI)

Welcome to the 2025 Faculty Development Summer Institute (FDSI)

The Faculty Development Summer Institute (FDSI) is an exciting new professional development initiative launched by the AUC Data Science Initiative in 2025. This inaugural program brings together a select cohort of faculty from across the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC) and partner institutions to engage in collaborative learning, curriculum innovation, and data science skill-building.

Our first-ever cohort represents a wide range of disciplines and institutions, united by their commitment to advancing data science education and research in their fields.

About the 2025 FDSI

The 2025 Faculty Development Summer Institute is designed to:

  • Enhance faculty capacity to teach and apply data science concepts
  • Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among educators
  • Support the integration of data-driven methods into diverse academic disciplines
  • Equip faculty with tools and strategies to strengthen student engagement and learning outcomes

Key Dates

The 2025 FDSI runs from May to August 2025, featuring a blend of in-person workshops and virtual sessions.

Meet the 2025 Inaugural FDSI Cohort

Our 2025 inaugural cohort includes faculty from various fields including STEM, social sciences, humanities, and professional studies. Each participant brings distinct expertise and a shared dedication to fostering student success through data science.

Nathan N. Alexander

Nathan N. Alexander

Assistant Professor

Curriculum and Instruction/Program in Applied Data Science
Howard University

Amjad Ali

Amjad Ali

Professor

Computer Science
Morgan State University

Joseph Aneke

Joseph Aneke

Assistant Professor

Computer Science
Hampton University

Mehdi Azimi

Mehdi Azimi

Associate Professor

Transportation Studies
Texas Southern University

Ebere Azumah

Ebere Azumah

Assistant Professor

OB/GYN
Morehouse School of Medicine

Yohn Jairo Parra Bautista

Yohn Jairo Parra Bautista

Assistant Professor

Computer Information Systems
Florida A&M University

Jason T. Black

Jason T. Black

Associate Professor

Information Systems and Operations Management
Florida A&M University / School of Business and Industry

Christopher Bolden

Christopher Bolden

Assistant Professor

Department of Biology
Xavier University of Louisiana

Naomi F. Campbell

Naomi F. Campbell

Associate Professor of Chemistry

Chemistry, Physics, & Atmospheric Sciences
Jackson State University

Seonho Choi

Seonho Choi

Professor

Computer Science
Bowie State University

Jessica Coates

Jessica Coates

Lecturer

Biology
Spelman College

Jamell Anthony Dacon

Jamell Anthony Dacon

Assistant Professor

Computer Science
Morgan State University

Sonya M Dennis

Sonya M Dennis

Associate Chair / Senior Assistant Professor

Computer Science
Morehouse College

Deidre Evans

Deidre Evans

Associate Professor and Director, University Honors Program

Computer Information Systems
Florida A&M University

Lin Li

Lin Li

Associate Professor

Graduate Program Coordinator / Department of Computer Science
Prairie View A&M University

Yujian Fu

Yujian Fu

Coordinator / Professor

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Alabama A&M University

Lila Ghemri

Lila Ghemri

Dr.

Computer Science/ Machine Learning
Texas Southern University

Balaram Khatri Ghimire

Balaram Khatri Ghimire

Associate Professor of Mathematics

Mathematics and Computer Science
Alabama State University

Vahid Heydari

Vahid Heydari

Associate Professor

Computer Science
Morgan State University

Edward Holt

Edward Holt

Department Head / Associate Professor

History
Grambling State University

Edwina Leonette Jacobs

Edwina Leonette Jacobs

Associate Instructor

Department of Computer and Information Sciences
Florida A & M University

Miquelle Fields Jones

Miquelle Fields Jones

Director of Analytics, Planning and Effectiveness (English Instructor)

Institutional Research and Effectiveness (Adjunct Humanities)
Miles College

April Jones

April Jones

Department Chair of Social Work / Associate Professor

Social Work
Tuskegee Unviersity

Charles Kim

Charles Kim

Professor

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Howard University

Paul Kim

Paul Kim

Professor

Biological Sciences/Cell and Molecular Biology
Grambling State University

Courtney Lamar

Courtney Lamar

Associate Professor

Cyber-Physical Systems
Clark Atlanta University

Naja A. Mack

Naja A. Mack

Assistant Professor

Computer Science
Morgan State University

Binod Manandhar

Binod Manandhar

Assistant professor

Department of Mathematical Sciences
Clark Atlanta University

Renee Mccoy

Renee Mccoy

Faculty / Senior Lecturer

School of Business / Decision Sciences
Clark Atlanta University

Timothy Oladunni

Timothy Oladunni

Assistant Professor

Computer Science
Morgan State University

Oyebade Kunle Oyerinde

Oyebade Kunle Oyerinde

Associate Professor

Public Administration
Clark Atlanta University

Roshan Paudel

Roshan Paudel

Professor of Practice

Computer Science
Morgan State University

Matthew Platt

Matthew Platt

Associate Professor

Political Science
Morehouse College

Basheer Qolomany

Basheer Qolomany

Assistant Professor

Medicine
Howard University- College of Medicine

Natarajan Ravi

Natarajan Ravi

Professor

Physics
Spelman College

Bharat S. Rawal

Bharat S. Rawal

Department Head / Full Professor

Computer Science and Digital Technologies
Grambling State University

Mohamed Salih

Mohamed Salih

Lecturer

Mathematics
University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Tapan Sarkar

Tapan Sarkar

Faculty / Instructor

Computer Science and College of Business
Southern University and A&M College

Md Kamruzzaman Sarker

Md Kamruzzaman Sarker

Assistant Professor

Computer Science
Bowie State University

MohammadAli Sazegarnejad

MohammadAli Sazegarnejad

Lecturer

Cyber-Physical Systems
Clark Atlanta University

Radwan Shushane

Radwan Shushane

Associate Professor

Computer Science
Morgan State University

Tiffanie Smith

Tiffanie Smith

Associate Professor

Computer Science
Lincoln University of PA

Rajendran Swamidurai

Rajendran Swamidurai

Professor and Coordinator of Computer Science

Math and Computer Science
Alabama State University

Antonio Velazquez Hernandez

Antonio Velazquez Hernandez

Assistant Professor

Engineering Technology (Civil Engineering Technology)
Savannah State University

Carla Willis

Carla Willis

Assistant Professor (Part Time)

Department of Public Health Education
Morehouse School of Medicine

Jie Yan

Jie Yan

Professor

Computer Science
Bowie State University

Bo Yang

Bo Yang

Professor

Computer Science
Bowie State University

Leummim Yao

Leummim Yao

Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Ph.D

Mathematics and Physics
Grambling State University

Raziq Yaqub

Raziq Yaqub

Associate Professor

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Alabama A&M University, Huntsville

Xiang Zhao

Xiang Zhao

Professor / Director

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science / Computer Science
Alabama A&M University

Program Highlights

  • Hands-on workshops led by experts in data science and pedagogy
  • Curriculum development sessions
  • Opportunities for cross-institutional collaboration
  • Access to tools and resources for integrating data science into teaching

Contact Information

For more information about the Faculty Development Summer Institute or to inquire about future opportunities, please contact: datascience@aucenter.edu