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Visionary Mathematician Dr. Talitha Washington Named 2022 AAAS Fellow

Visionary Mathematician Dr. Talitha Washington Named 2022 AAAS Fellow

Jan 31, 2023 | ,

ATLANTA, GA, January 31, 2023 – The world’s largest general scientific society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), has elected Dr. Talitha Washington to the 2022 class of AAAS Fellows. Dr. Washington received recognition for “distinguished contributions to diversity in mathematics and the sciences and service to the mathematics profession.”

Dr. Washington is the inaugural Director of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative, a Professor of Mathematics at Clark Atlanta University and an affiliate faculty at Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College. She is the Director and lead principal investigator of the NSF-funded National Data Science Alliance (NDSA) and the President of the Association for Women in Mathematics. 

Poised to bring new diverse perspectives to data science, as Director, she oversees and provides strategic direction of data science across the AUC institutions – Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College. The NDSA expands these efforts across all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to increase the number of Blacks with expertise in data science and expand data science research that advocates for social justice.  

Now, Dr. Washington is among the 508 scientists, engineers and innovators who have been elected to the 2022 class of AAAS Fellows for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements throughout their careers.

“At the Atlanta University Center, our faculty lead the way in educating Black students who advance new knowledge, discoveries, and innovations that will impact our world,” said Dr. David A. Thomas, chair of the AUC Council of Presidents and president of Morehouse College. “Dr. Washington is a visionary leader who is bringing transformative change to the national data science landscape for the betterment of our society.” 

AAAS Fellows are a distinguished cadre of scientists, engineers and innovators who have been recognized for their achievements across disciplines, from research, teaching, and technology, to administration in academia, industry and government, to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public.  

A tradition dating back to 1874, election as a AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor, and all Fellows are expected to maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity. 

“AAAS is excited to announce the newest class of fellows from across the scientific enterprise in a tradition dating back nearly 150 years and to honor their broad range of achievements,” said Sudip Parikh, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals.   

Dr. Washington joins a distinguished group of accomplished AUC faculty elected into the ranks of a AAAS Fellow. 

AUC’s AAAS Fellows include:  

1905 – William Du Bois, Atlanta University
1933 – Helen Albro, Spelman College
1933 – Ralph Mitchell, Morehouse College
1955 – Paul Cliffort, Atlanta University
1971 – Edward Weaver, Atlanta University / Butler College
1999 – Etta Falconer, Spelman College
2003 – Melvin Webb, Clark Atlanta University
2009 – Sylvia Bozeman, Spelman College
2011 – Alfred Msezane, Clark Atlanta University
2020 – John Haynes, Morehouse College
2021 – James Lillard, Morehouse School of Medicine
2022 – Talitha Washington, Clark Atlanta University / Atlanta University Center      

 

About the American Association for the Advancement of Science  

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, as well as Science Translational Medicine; Science Signaling; a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances; Science Immunology; and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. The nonprofit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. For additional information about AAAS, visit www.aaas.org.  

  

New Job Opportunity – NDSA Project Manager

New Job Opportunity – NDSA Project Manager

Sep 30, 2022 | ,

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Consortium invites applications for the position of National Data Science Alliance (NDSA) Project Manager. The NDSA is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF 2217346) and is subject to the related terms and conditions. The Project Manager will join the NDSA Backbone team at the AUC Consortium to ensure project goals and milestones are effectively implemented and met.

The AUC Consortium is a nonprofit organization conceived to coordinate activities assigned to it by its member institutions, improve efficiency through mutual sharing of resources, and create economies of scale. As the world’s oldest and largest Consortium of HBCUs, the AUC Consortium member institutions include Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College. The AUC Consortium is located in Atlanta, GA, and houses the AUC Data Science Initiative that facilitates and coordinates data science-focused research, activities, and programs across the Consortium’s institutions and the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library. The Initiative will provide support to the NDSA Backbone.

The NDSA expands data science research and education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities(HBCUs) and develops a national network of HBCUs with industry, government, and academic collaboration to transform data science discoveries into tangible societal benefits that advance equity for all. The NDSA will increase the number of Blacks earning data science credentials by at least 20,000 and will actively engage over 1,000 HBCU faculty, staff, and administrative leaders in targeted efforts that create equity-based data science ecosystems where all students can thrive.

As a member of the Backbone team, the Project Manager is senior personnel and will lead coordination efforts across the NDSA and implementation of NDSA’s core strategies and activities. The Project Manager will provide strategic direction and oversee operational decisions for the NDSA as a whole. The Project Manager will manage and support the NDSA by ensuring the development and implementation of its work plan, ongoing facilitation and communication among partners, and handling logistic and administrative details for the NDSA to function smoothly.

The NDSA Project Manager should have a doctoral degree or another terminal degree, administrative experience, and achievements in data science or a related field.

The NDSA Project Manager will report to the NDSA Principal Investigator, Dr. Talitha Washington, will work closely with the AUCC Executive Director, Dr. Michael Hodge, and will have two direct reports to be hired: Communications Manager and Administrative Coordinator. The Project Manager will work closely with the NDSA leadership team and will collaborate with the AUC Data Science Initiative’s staff.

Areas of responsibility include:

  1. Drive the vision and strategy of the NDSA and ensure that NDSA’s goals and milestones are effectively implemented and met.
  2. Establish a shared repository of data, reports, research, strategies, and models to be housed on the NDSA website
  3. Collaborate with members and internal constituents to ensure appropriate support systems are in place to accomplish the goals of the project.
  4. Support and work closely with all hubs and committees to ensure cohesive, integrated, and smooth operation of the project.
  5. Coordinate site visits, the processing of transactions, and act as the primary liaison between all hubs and collaborators, supporting reporting responsibilities.
  6. Support the development of reports and publications, and dissemination of NDSA outcomes as needed.
  7. Participate in annual meetings and site visits, and be responsive to requests for participation and information from the NSF INCLUDES Coordination Hub.

Work Location

  • While the Project Manager position is not a remote job, the AUC Consortium provides some flexibility via telework.
  • During teleworking, you will be required to provide a space, either your home or another location to work from, at your own expense.

Position Location: Atlanta, Georgia

TO APPLY:

Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, and names of three references to:

Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications received by 11:59 pm ET on October 15, 2022, are ensured full consideration.

As an equal opportunity employer, the AUC Consortium does not discriminate on any basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law including race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital, veteran status, genetic information or any other legally protected status. The Consortium will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship.

CAU Receives NSF Funding to Infuse Data Science into the STEM Curriculum

CAU Receives NSF Funding to Infuse Data Science into the STEM Curriculum

Sep 15, 2022 | ,

Atlanta, GA – A research team from Clark Atlanta University was awarded a $396,738 grant (#2205882) from the National Science Foundation to provide students with education and training in modern principles and techniques of data-driven discovery by infusing data science education and research into the university’s STEM curriculum.

Talitha Washington, professor of mathematical sciences and director of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative, is the project’s principal investigator, with Binod Manandhar, assistant professor of mathematical sciences, Sandra Rucker, associate professor of mathematical sciences, and Eric Mintz, professor of chemistry, serving as co-principal investigators. Graduate and undergraduate students will also be involved. 

There is a growing need for STEM professionals who possess data science skills. However, there is a shortage of professionals who possess deep knowledge in a particular STEM domain with a solid ability to use data, analytics, and visualization tools. The interplay of data science and STEM has revealed a need for further research on how to best train and equip students in data science, so they are prepared for entry into the STEM workforce or graduate school.

The project will engage faculty to develop data science modules in STEM courses and expands the work of the university’s Provost Summer Faculty Development in Data Science Initiative program. This program, led by Mintz, has developed a cadre of faculty to conduct data science research and education with support from the AUC Data Science Initiative and the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building’s Career Pathways Initiative.

This endeavor will leverage the efforts of the AUC Data Science Initiative to build sustainable institutional capacity and infuse data science into the classrooms and research programs.

“By developing new undergraduate data science courses, creating modules for STEM courses, and implementing a data science laboratory, we will create promising practices that cultivate a data science-enabled STEM diverse workforce,” said Washington.

Historic $10 Million NSF Grant Establishes the National Data Science Alliance to Expand Data Science at HBCUs

Historic $10 Million NSF Grant Establishes the National Data Science Alliance to Expand Data Science at HBCUs

Aug 4, 2022 | ,

Atlanta, GA – August 3, 2022 – Clark Atlanta University (CAU) makes history as the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to receive a $10 million award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) INCLUDES program to establish the National Data Science Alliance (NDSA).

The NDSA builds on the collaborative data science work at the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Consortium member institutions, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College, as well as the AUC Robert Woodruff Library.

The NDSA will increase the number of Black people earning data science credentials by at least 20,000 by 2027 and expand data science research that advocates for social justice and strive to eliminate bias. To accomplish this visionary goal, the NDSA will facilitate engagement across all HBCUs with industry and academic collaboration to broaden participation and advance social justice in data science.

“This is a monumental accomplishment for the HBCU community as a whole, and we at Clark Atlanta University are deeply honored to perpetuate institutional mission through data science,” said President George T. French Jr., Ph.D. “Clark Atlanta University has deep roots in conducting data science research that promotes equity, including the seminal works of scholar and former faculty member W.E.B. Du Bois on these hallowed grounds. This historic award exemplifies our commitment to ensuring that competitive advantage for students to succeed and excel in our data-driven society.”

Talitha Washington, the lead and principal investigator of the grant, is the mastermind behind the NDSA. As the Director of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative and professor of mathematics at Clark Atlanta University, she is passionate about engaging more HBCUs and building a community to accelerate the preparation of students in data science and discover solutions for data-oriented problems that impact the lives of Blacks.

“We are excited that many HBCUs will collaborate with us to develop new equity-based discoveries in data science and expand student pathways that will change the face of data science,” said Washington.

The NDSA is supported by the AUC Consortium, led by Michael Hodge, with industry-university collaboration led by Moses Garuba (Howard University) and collective impact efforts led by H. Justin Ballenger (Morehouse College).  The NDSA’s three regional hubs are led by LaTanya Brown-Robertson (Howard University), Sajid Hussain (Fisk University), and Eric Mintz (Clark Atlanta University). The evaluation will be led by Kavita Mittapalli (MN Associates).

The NDSA will catalyze systemic change at scale by engaging over 1,000 HBCU faculty and will create equity-based data science ecosystems where all students can learn and thrive.