EVENTS
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The AUC Data Science Seminar Series (AUC DS3) showcases exciting and important advancements in data science, with a focus on topics that impact Black America. The series includes local and nationally renowned professors and specialists presenting findings, stimulating thinking, and creating collaboration ideas for the AUC students and faculty.
The series will feature presentations with the purpose of deepening AUC community engagement with data science with two tracks:
Research and Teaching (every 2nd Friday at 12:00 pm EST)
Community Engagement (every 4th Friday at 12:00 pm EST)
Upcoming Seminars & Events

[IN-PERSON] Symposium on the Power of Black Health Equity Conference
– June 8, 6:00 pm-9:00 pm | June 9, 9:30 am-4:30 pm ET; Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
This symposium explores the Power of Data Behind Black Health and how to develop equitable solutions for healthier communities. Participants will engage in multidisciplinary discussions that explore how to advance AI/ML approaches that improve health outcomes and address health disparities, in particular, for those from Black communities. Topics include AI/ML approaches that address health disparities, the impact of cultural insensitivity in AI/ML algorithms and models, and methodologies that promote transparency and mitigate bias in AI/ML algorithms and models.
Previous Events & Seminars

DS^3: Mobilizing Healthier Communities Through Data
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 28th, 2023
The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with our FINAL Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3) of the semester.
This virtual panel seeks to inform the community and share key aspects of data and health equity.

2023 END OF YEAR CELEBRATION
– 6 pm ET, Wednesday, April 26th, 2023
This celebration is for our ENTIRE AUC Data Science Family. We are looking forward to celebrating our students, faculty, staff in the presence of our generous alumni and generous corporate sponsors. Together we recognizing the many successes over the past academic year!
Join us for an evening of fun and fellowship!
Highlights Include:
Food, Live DJ, Music, 360 Photo Booth, Awards, Networking
RSVP IS REQUIRED!

DS^3: Artificial Intelligence and Black Health
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 14th, 2023
The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with another Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3).
After losing his wife to cancer, software engineer Avery Smith is working to make machine learning tools used in dermatology more inclusive. With Melalogic, he is creating an app for Black skin health information, with a database to help research. We will learn about health solutions that address the effects of programmatic bias in technical architecture (AI and ML). Join us!

DS^3: How to be Successful in Data Science
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 24th, 2023
The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with another Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3).
What does it takes to be successful in data science? How can data science help issues such as Black maternal mortality? Join us for a special discussion and learn the answers to these questions from Application Engineering Senior Team Lead at MathWorks, Louvere Walker-Hannon.

DS^3: Data, Analytics & Health Disparities
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 10th, 2023
The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with another Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3).
Our March 10th seminar explores how the AIM AHEAD Infrastructure Core is advancing technological solutions for underrepresented communities. Join us!
W.E.B. Du Bois Data Science Symposium
– 11:00 am ET, Friday, February 24th, 2023
The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative is in pursuit of developing cutting-edge data science research and scholarship. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, a former professor at Atlanta University, pioneered data visualizations to unravel the social plight of Blacks in the 19th century. This one-day symposium invites faculty and staff from the AUC to share their data science work, including harnessing data science to address issues that face Black America.
The Symposium featured engaging keynote presentations, lightning talks, and networking opportunities. The Symposium is now available to watch on demand!

DS^3: Love, Data & Algorithms
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, February 10th, 2023
The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with a Data Science Seminar Series (DS^3) just in time for Valentine’s Day! Should we leave our love life to the stars, to fate…or just maybe can BIG DATA help our chances of finding that true love!?
We have an educational and entertaining seminar about Love, Data, and Algorithms on Friday, Feb. 10th! Join us!
How Data Changes the Game
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, January 27th, 2023
The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative returns with the debut of our Data Science Seminar Series DS^3 with a virtual panel seeking to inform the community and share key aspects of sports analytics.

LUNCH 'n LEARN: Court & Data
– 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm ET, Tuesday, January 24th, 2023
The AUC Data Science Initiative will host this Lunch ‘n Learn to give an overview of the SCALES project by our nearby colleagues at Georgia State University, provide an overview of the “Using Data to Drive Reform Through Prosecutorial Performance” June 2022 workshop, and explore possible “next steps.”
Prosecutorial Performance Indicators: https://prosecutorialperformanceindicators.org/
SCALES (Systematic Content Analysis of Litigation EventS):
https://scales-okn.org/
SCALES’ NSF Award:
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2033604
Our Featured Speakers:
Elycia Daniel, Clark Atlanta University
Kat Albrecht, Georgia State University
Charlotte Alexander, Georgia State University
Adam Robert Pah, Northwestern University
Lauren Sudeall, Georgia State University
Bill Sabol, Georgia State University
For more information, contact Elycia Daniel at edaniel@cau.edu

MATLAB WORKSHOP
– Monday, January 9, 2023, 8:30am until 1:30pm
- In-person
- $250 stipend
- Description: This half-day course will introduce you to programming and how to leverage MATLAB to easily integrate AI into your courses and research. New and experienced users of MATLAB are encouraged to attend and all disciplines are welcome. This is a hands-on workshop, so please bring your laptop.

The Carpentries Instructor Training
– December 14th-15th 2022, 9am until 5pm
- In-person
- $500 stipend
- Application: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CarpentriesInstructor
- Prerequisites: For AUC faculty who have completed at least 1 Carpentries workshop.

DS^3: Data, Physics & Jazz
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, November 11th 2022
Dr. Stephon H. Alexander explores interconnections between music, physics, mathematics, and technology through recordings, performances, teaching, and public lectures.

DS^3: What You Need to Know about Data Privacy & Cybersecurity
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 28th 2022
Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) lead a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise cybersecurity awareness nationally and internationally.

DS^3: Growing Data Warriors to Reclaim Tribal Data Sovereignty
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 14th 2022
Dr. Desi Small-Rodriguez is a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation and Chicana. She is an assistant professor of Sociology and American Indian Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. As a social demographer, her research explores the intersection of race, indigeneity, data, and inequality. Her teaching and advocacy center on disrupting settler colonial systems and rebuilding data for strong Indigenous futures. She has partnered with Indigenous communities in the U.S. and internationally as a researcher and data advocate for more than ten years. She directs the Data Warriors Lab, an Indigenous social science laboratory. She is the Co-Founder of the U.S. Indigenous Data Sovereignty Network and a founding member of the Global Indigenous Data Alliance.
Data Science, Space, and Sustainability Symposium
– Wednesday, October 5th 2022
The Data Science, Space, and Sustainability Symposium will be hosted on our accelevents platform. Register now to ensure you don’t miss out on an exciting day of data and space!! Plus join our full week of events!
Space Day Atlanta In The AUC
– Saturday, October 8th 2022
The AUC Data Science Initiative will host the Space and Data Science Symposium which will highlight how data is used to explore new frontiers in space. World Space Week Atlanta is designed to engage with HBCUs and higher education institutions, K-12 schools, industry, and the broader community. This symposium is free and open to the public. Join us for engaging discussions and presentations!
Virtual Student Data Science Symposium
– Friday, September 23rd 2022
The AUC Data Science Initiative hosted its second annual Student Data Science Symposium.
Our one day symposium celebrated and highlighted the data science work of AUC students and those that participated in AUC Data Science Initiative programs…along with keynotes, food, exciting networking activities, and prizes.
You can view all the sessions, lightning talks, and exciting keynotes through the Accelevents portal!
DS^3: Artificial Intelligence & the Artist’s Hand
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, September 9th 2022
Emerging AI technology has the potential to replicate some of the processes used by artists when creating their work. Dr. Nettrice Gaskins uses AI-driven software such as deep or machine learning to train machines to identify and process images. Dr. Gaskins will share how she uses natural language processing or NLPs, generative adversarial networks or GANs, and image style transfer to render new images using different images and styles. What emerges from her work is a techno-vernacular aesthetic that explores futuristic notions of identity.

DS^3: Graduate School Opportunities in Data Science
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, August 26th 2022
This seminar will feature tips on the application process, how to find and secure funding, and highlight various graduate programs in data science. Panelists Include:
– Dr. Joseph Hogan, Brown University, Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics Carole and Lawrence Sirovich Professor of Public Health
– Dr. Gianluca Iaccarino, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director, Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering, Stanford University
– Imani Maliti, Incoming M.S. Candidate in Data Science, Columbia University (CAU C’22)

Data Block Party @ The AUC Library
– Wednesday, August 24th 2022
Join us on Wednesday, August 24th for a evening of food, fun, and data! All students, faculty, and staff are welcomed to join us outdoors and see what data science has the most fun!

Workshop on Using Data to Drive Reform Through Prosecutorial Performance
This workshop invites faculty, staff, and researchers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to explore how to develop projects and partnerships that use data to drive reform through prosecutorial performance.
The workshop focuses on developing multidisciplinary partnerships between HBCU researchers and local prosecutors to develop data-driven equitable solutions. The goal of the workshop is to (a) discuss political, logistical, and methodological aspects of the Prosecutorial Performance Indicators implementation, and (b) generate concrete ideas for forming local researcher-prosecutor partnerships.
Data and the African Diaspora NSF Workshop (May 16-17-18)
– Monday, May 16th – Wednesday, May 18th, 2022
The three-day discovery workshop Enhancing Data Science Education by Leveraging Data Sets from the African Diaspora will virtually convene a cohort of 40 participants tasked with interacting to explore and discover key topics and questions that will inform future research and collaboration around how to better practice culturally relevant data science education at the undergraduate level. On each day, sessions will convene from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm ET with allowance for a 15-30 minute “early tech start” to troubleshoot technology and accessibility issues.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2136382. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
DS^3: National Data Mine Network
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 22nd, 2022
The leadership of the National Data Mine Network – Dr. Mark D. Ward (Principal Investigator), Dr. Monica Jackson (Co-PI), Dr. Talitha Washington (Co-PI), Dr. Katherine Ensor (Co-PI), and Dr. Donna LaLonde (Co-PI) will speak on its establishment and intent.
The National Data Mine Network (NDMN) will directly fund 300 undergraduate students at Minority Serving Institutions with research stipends (100 stipends per year), administered directly to students by the American Statistical Association. The leadership team leverages collaborative strengths of the American Statistical Association, the Math Alliance, Purdue University, American University, and the Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative. The students will use high-performance computing to solve data-driven challenges that arise in every sector of industry, including biomedical engineering, healthcare engineering, image processing, manufacturing, supply chain management, and transportation.
DS^3: Prosecutorial Performance Indicators
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 8th, 2022
Dr. Besiki Luka Kutateladze, Associate Director of Prosecution and Courts in the Center for the Administration of Justice along with George Jenkins, Executive Deputy District Attorney at Fulton County District Attorney’s Office – will speak on their use of innovative use of data to drive reform through prosecutorial performance.
SAP-Data in the C-Suite: Networking Lunch
– 10:30 am until 12:30 pm ET, Monday, March 28th, 2022
SAP’s Chief Technology Officer & Executive Board Member Dr. Juergen Mueller will discuss how to have an international career in data. This session will be moderated by Dr. Karina Edmonds, SAP Senior Vice President of Academies & Universities. Join the “Ask Me Anything” Session with Juergen Mueller to learn about what it takes to be an executive at a Global Fortune 500 company and what life is like as a Chief Technology Officer. A networking lunch with local SAP executives to learn about SAP job and internship opportunities will immediately follow the session.
DS^3: Human Trafficking Awareness Through Data Science
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 25th, 2022
Clark Atlanta University students Victoria Grase and Woomy Michel present their innovative data science work on trafficking awareness, they are fresh off their recent speaking engagements at the ADSA conference in California.
DS^3: The Sounds of Data Science
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 11th, 2022
Dr. Kobi Abayomi speaks on his innovative work as the SVP of Data Science and Analytics at Warner Music Group (WMG).
W.E.B. Du Bois Data Science Symposium
– 11:30 am ET, Friday, February 25th, 2022
The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative is in pursuit of developing cutting-edge data science research and scholarship. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, a former professor at Atlanta University, pioneered data visualizations to unravel the social plight of Blacks in the 19th century. This one-day symposium invites faculty and staff from the AUC to share their data science work, including harnessing data science to address issues that face Black America.
The Symposium will feature engaging keynote presentations, lightning talks, and networking opportunities. The Symposium was free and open to the public.
DS^3: Open Doors x Open Doors
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, February 11th, 2022
Dr. Kinnis Gosha of Morehouse College will be leading this DS^3 Seminar detailing how he paved a way for new tech opportunities for HBCU students through the Open Doors by Open Source summer program.
DS^3: Black Excellence in Computer Science
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, January 28th, 2022
Dr. Jelani Osei Nelson is a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He won the 2014 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. He will speak on his award-winning research and how he ties his passion into philanthropy across the world.
DS^3: Why Cultural Competence Matters
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, November 12th, 2021
Cultural competence originated in social work and counseling psychology, and it has expanded to areas such as healthcare. Yet it hasn’t traditionally been considered an important part of computing. This talk discusses what cultural competence is, why it matters in computing (including data science), and strategies for developing/improving it.
Speaker:
Dr. A. Nicki Washington, Professor of the Practice of Computer Science, Duke University

DIRECTOR'S LUNCH AND LEARN (for Affiliates ONLY)
Every 2nd and 4th Friday
We invite all Affiliates of the AUC Data Science Initiative to attend informative lunches on various topics from setting up an ORCID to navigating NSF FastLane to grant writing tips. Come with your lunch (on us!) and laptop to develop these tools to kickstart your research. These topics are meant to support your research endeavors in data science!
SAP and The Coca Cola Company Career Day - "From the Formula to the Fridge"
Join our Information Session to:
- Learn key insights about SAP & The Coca Cola Company
- Meet & Network with Business Professionals
- Apply for paid internship opportunities!
- Discover Ways to Kickstart Your Career
- Optimize your resume
- Prepare for the Big Interview
- Understand the search & application process
- Explore entrepreneurship with SAP.iO
DS^3: Impacts of Cybersecurity, Data Protection, and Privacy Laws on Society
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 22nd, 2021
Data science has quickly become a primary tool in addressing information security. Cybersecurity attacks from data breaches impact personal data and privacy. This panel will share insights on how cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy laws impact every aspect of our lives and recent advancements to thwart malicious acts.
Panelists:
-Dr. Deborah Dent, Chief Information Officer, Jackson State University; PI of MSI Cyberinfrastructure Consortium
-Mr. Tim McKnight, Chief Security Officer, Global Security Unit, SAP
-Dr. William Christian, Former Deputy Chief for the National Security Agency’s Statistics and Machine Learning Research Office
DS^3: A New Approach for Faster Acquisition and Deblurring of Imaging Data in Magnetic Resonance
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, October 8th, 2021
The evolution of technology has drastically impacted the imaging field, particularly in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Compared to other imaging technologies, MRI offers multiple contrasting mechanisms to distinguish tissues and fat, is radiation-free, and provides anatomical and molecular information about the tissue in question. However, data acquisition times to produce those images require a patient to lie still for a relatively long time. Consequently, it may lead to the voluntary or involuntary movement of the patient due to discomfort. Combined with the underlying issue of inherent noise, MRI is often blurry and contains artifacts. Dr. Johnson will present a new approach to speed up the MR data acquisition through sparse signal reconstruction and deconvolving the unwanted convolution simultaneously.
SPEAKER: Dr. Talon Johnson, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas at Arlington and graduate of Morehouse College (BS ’16)
VIRTUAL STUDENT DATA SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM - September 24th
This one-day virtual symposium invites students from the AUC and those who participated in AUC Data Science Initiative programs to share their data science work, including harnessing data science to address issues that face Black America. We celebrate and highlight the data science work of AUC students and those that participated in AUC Data Science Initiative programs.
DS^3: Sitting at the Intersection: My View on the World of Data Science
DIRECTOR'S DEBRIEF: How the Government is Advancing Data Science Research
SPEAKER: Dr. Victor R. McCrary, Vice President for Research and Graduate Programs at the University of the District of Columbia; Vice Chair, National Science Board (NSB).
Tips for Getting a Data Science Job
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, August 27th, 2021
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR INAUGRUAL SYMPOSIUM
On April 23rd, the AUC DSI hosted the inaugural W.E.B. Du Bois Data Science Symposium
About: The Atlanta University Center (AUC) is in pursuit of developing cutting-edge data science research and scholarship. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, a former professor at Atlanta University, pioneered data visualizations to unravel the social plight of Blacks in the 19th century. This one-day symposium invites faculty from the AUC to share their data science work, including harnessing data science to address issues that face Black America.
The Symposium featured engaging keynote presentations, lightning talks, and networking opportunities. The Symposium was free and open to the public.
Harnessing the Technological Revolution Through AI, Data Science, and Quantum
– [Morning Keynote] Friday, April 23rd, 2021
Data and Du Bois: Futurist Frameworks for an Interdisciplinary Education
– [Afternoon Keynote] Friday, April 23rd, 2021
Can Data Science Predict Who Gets COVID-19 Next?
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, April 9th, 2021
New York City (NYC) was an epicenter of COVID-19. By July of 2020, there were 212,295 confirmed cases and 18,408 deaths related to COVID-19 in NYC. To investigate predictors of COVID-19 cases and death rates in NYC, Dr. Monica Jackson led a summer research project for undergraduate students. The data analysis included race, health, and environment characteristics for NYC zip codes, neighborhoods, and boroughs, along with NYC government’s reported case and death rates by zip code. Dr. Jackson will show how data science can reveal the impact of sociodemographic and environmental factors to predict COVID-19 cases in NYC and how to lead student research that results in a published, peer-reviewed article.
SPEAKER: Dr. Monica Jackson, Interim Deputy Provost & Dean of Faculty and Professor of Statistics at American University and graduate of Clark Atlanta University (BS ’92 & MS ’94)
How to Build a Degree Program in Data Science
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 26th, 2021
The seminar will share promising practices on building data science programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Bowie State University developed new courses and an undergraduate certificate in data science and analytics. Fisk University established the first undergraduate data science program in the state of Tennessee. Morehouse School of Medicine will launch a Master of Science in Health Informatics in the fall of 2021. Panelists will share key considerations in the preparatory stages of program design, stakeholder engagement, course and curriculum structures, and how their program addresses a national need.
Panelists include:
- Dr. LaTanya Brown, Professor of Economics and Lead of the Data Science & Analytics Initiative, Bowie State University
- Dr. Angelita Howard, Assistant Dean for Online Education and Expanded Programs, Morehouse School of Medicine
- Dr. Sajid Hussain, Associate Vice Provost for Innovation & Information Technology (CTO), Associate Professor of Computer Science, and Discipline Coordinator of Data Science, Fisk University
How Data Fights Cancer in the Black Community
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, March 12, 2021
Dr. Dennis Dean will present insights on how developing data analysis frameworks, creating and using advanced analytical methods, and collaborating to develop data-infrastructure, we can identify new multi-agent cancer treatments. Precision medicine holds the promise of individualizing medical treatment in part by incorporating an individual’s genomic data within the treatment plan.
How do we ensure that large-scale data sets include the Black community? What efforts need to be made to ensure that data-driven cancer treatments benefit us all? Dr. Dean will unravel national computational initiatives that advance large-scale genomic analysis and he aims to galvanize data science to bring treatment solutions to the Black community.
Data and the Black Vote
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, February 26, 2021
Panelists will include Robert Patillo, Executive Director at Rainbow PUSH Atlanta and Clark Atlanta University alum, Dr. Karen Saxe, Head of Governmental Relations at the American Mathematical Society; and Dr. Ron Wasserstein, Executive Director of the American Statistical Association.
The Black Revolution in Data Science
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, February 12, 2021
As the inaugural director of the Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative, Dr. Talitha Washington, is leading efforts to advance data science research and teaching across a consortium of four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College. The initiative seeks to advance the creation of data-driven solutions to current and emerging societal problems, especially as it pertains to Black America.

Preparing for Graduate Studies in Data Science
– 12:00 pm ET, Friday, January 22, 2021
Panelists include Dr. Tor Kwembe who will talk about Jackson State University’s Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering PhD program; Brianne Cortese will talk about Columbia University’s Data Science MS program; and Kevin Womack will talk about his graduate school experiences, from Morehouse to Columbia.