Episode 50 – Miss Me with the Ms. Part 2 Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Tiffanie R. Smith, Ph.D. http://www.tiffaniersmith.com Episode Description: The conversation continues with Tiffanie R. Smith, Ph.D. as we celebrate reaching 50 episodes! Listen as Dr. Smith shares how she was successful in combining her love of dance with STEM along with why how her students address her is important.  Tiffanie’s Bio- Dr. Tiffanie R. Smith is currently an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Lincoln University of PA. She received her Ph.D. in Human Centered Computing from the University of Florida in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering in 2019. Her research interests include educational technologies, embodied learning, culturally relevant education, and broadening minority participation in STEM.

Episode 50 – Miss Me with the Ms. Part 2 Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Tiffanie R. Smith, Ph.D. <a href="http://www.tiffaniersmith.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.tiffaniersmith.com</a> Episode Description: The conversation continues with Tiffanie R. Smith, Ph.D. as we celebrate reaching 50 episodes! Listen as Dr. Smith shares how she was successful in combining her love of dance with STEM along with why how her students address her is important. Tiffanie’s Bio- Dr. Tiffanie R. Smith is currently an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Lincoln University of PA. She received her Ph.D. in Human Centered Computing from the University of Florida in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering in 2019. Her research interests include educational technologies, embodied learning, culturally relevant education, and broadening minority participation in STEM.

Miss Me with the Ms. Part 2 – Episode 050

Episode 49 – Miss Me with the Ms. Part 1 Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Tiffanie R. Smith, Ph.D. http://www.tiffaniersmith.com Episode Description: We are joined by Dr. Tiffanie R. Smith, a self-professed over-achiever, who recounts her journey to PhD from making the “best decision ever made” in her entire life to being shunned by her lab mates. Her path to current success included many twists and turns. Dr. Smith excels at following her gut instincts while remaining focused on her goals.  Tiffanie’s Bio- Dr. Tiffanie R. Smith is currently an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Lincoln University of PA. She received her Ph.D. in Human Centered Computing from the University of Florida in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering in 2019. Her research interests include educational technologies, embodied learning, culturally relevant education, and broadening minority participation in STEM.

Episode 49 – Miss Me with the Ms. Part 1 Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Tiffanie R. Smith, Ph.D. <a href="http://www.tiffaniersmith.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.tiffaniersmith.com</a> Episode Description: We are joined by Dr. Tiffanie R. Smith, a self-professed over-achiever, who recounts her journey to PhD from making the “best decision ever made” in her entire life to being shunned by her lab mates. Her path to current success included many twists and turns. Dr. Smith excels at following her gut instincts while remaining focused on her goals. Tiffanie’s Bio- Dr. Tiffanie R. Smith is currently an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Lincoln University of PA. She received her Ph.D. in Human Centered Computing from the University of Florida in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering in 2019. Her research interests include educational technologies, embodied learning, culturally relevant education, and broadening minority participation in STEM.

Miss Me with the Ms. Part 1 – Episode 049

Episode 48 – The Intersection of Psychology and Technology Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Courtney D. Cogburn Twitter: .@courtneycogburn Episode Description: Unlike most people, Dr. Courtney D. Cogburn knew early on that she was interested in a career in Psychology and later, Social Work. Listen as she shares how these two disciplines contribute to her current work in studying racial inequities. Learn how she is utilizing technology to reveal how racial bias impacts all aspects of our lives.  Courtney’s Bio- Dr. Courtney D. Cogburn is an associate professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work and faculty of the Columbia Population Research Center and Data Science Institute where she co-chairs the Computational Social Science Working Group. She employs a transdisciplinary approach to improve the characterization and measurement of racism, and in examining the role of racism in the production of racial inequities in health. Dr. Cogburn’s work also explores media as a social stressor that contributes to racial inequities in health. She also works at the intersection of emerging technology and social justice. She is the lead creator of 1000 Cut Journey, an immersive virtual reality experience of racism that premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, and is also the co-founder of the Justice Equity and Technology Studio at Columbia. Dr. Cogburn is a member of the American Medical Association’s External Equity &amp; Innovation Advisory Group, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Equity Collective, and also serves as the Chief Equity Officer and Knowledge Transfer Director of the Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence and Physics (LEAP), an NSF Science and Technology Center (STC). Dr. Cogburn completed postdoctoral training at Harvard University in the RWJF Health &amp; Society Scholar Program and at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in Education and Psychology and an MSW from the University of Michigan and completed her BA in Psychology at the University of Virginia.

Episode 48 – The Intersection of Psychology and Technology Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Courtney D. Cogburn Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/courtneycogburn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@courtneycogburn</a> Episode Description: Unlike most people, Dr. Courtney D. Cogburn knew early on that she was interested in a career in Psychology and later, Social Work. Listen as she shares how these two disciplines contribute to her current work in studying racial inequities. Learn how she is utilizing technology to reveal how racial bias impacts all aspects of our lives. Courtney’s Bio- Dr. Courtney D. Cogburn is an associate professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work and faculty of the Columbia Population Research Center and Data Science Institute where she co-chairs the Computational Social Science Working Group. She employs a transdisciplinary approach to improve the characterization and measurement of racism, and in examining the role of racism in the production of racial inequities in health. Dr. Cogburn’s work also explores media as a social stressor that contributes to racial inequities in health. She also works at the intersection of emerging technology and social justice. She is the lead creator of 1000 Cut Journey, an immersive virtual reality experience of racism that premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, and is also the co-founder of the Justice Equity and Technology Studio at Columbia. Dr. Cogburn is a member of the American Medical Association’s External Equity &amp; Innovation Advisory Group, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Equity Collective, and also serves as the Chief Equity Officer and Knowledge Transfer Director of the Learning the Earth with Artificial Intelligence and Physics (LEAP), an NSF Science and Technology Center (STC). Dr. Cogburn completed postdoctoral training at Harvard University in the RWJF Health &amp; Society Scholar Program and at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in Education and Psychology and an MSW from the University of Michigan and completed her BA in Psychology at the University of Virginia.

The Intersection of Psychology and Technology – Episode 048

Episode 47 – A Pivot For the Culture Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Bethlehem Mesfin Twitter: .@BettyMes_ Episode Description: Meet friend of the podcast, Bethlehem Mesfin, a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science. Learn about her shift into tech and how a need for community lead to co-founding Code 4 the Culture. Betty’s Bio- Bethlehem Mesfin is a graduate student at Northeastern University, pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science. Driven by her passion for building products for all, she transitioned from a career in business into the world of computing. Bethlehem earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, with dual concentrations in Marketing and Leadership &amp; Consulting, from Binghamton University (SUNY). Bethlehem is a co-founder and former co-president of Code4TheCulture, a student-led organization dedicated to creating a supportive and safe community for Black and Latinx Graduate students in Computer Science. She currently serves on the Code4TheCulture Alumni Advisory Board and is a GEM University Fellow.

Episode 47 – A Pivot For the Culture Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Bethlehem Mesfin Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/@BettyMes_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@BettyMes_</a> Episode Description: Meet friend of the podcast, Bethlehem Mesfin, a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science. Learn about her shift into tech and how a need for community lead to co-founding Code 4 the Culture. Betty’s Bio- Bethlehem Mesfin is a graduate student at Northeastern University, pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science. Driven by her passion for building products for all, she transitioned from a career in business into the world of computing. Bethlehem earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, with dual concentrations in Marketing and Leadership &amp; Consulting, from Binghamton University (SUNY). Bethlehem is a co-founder and former co-president of Code4TheCulture, a student-led organization dedicated to creating a supportive and safe community for Black and Latinx Graduate students in Computer Science. She currently serves on the Code4TheCulture Alumni Advisory Board and is a GEM University Fellow.

A Pivot For the Culture – Episode 047

Episode 46 – Young, Gifted, and Black-ademic III Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Twitter: .@Dr_Kyla .@jeremywaisome Episode Description: This episode is part of a series dedicated to giving Modern Figures Podcast listeners the inside scoop of a career in academia directly from our hosts. From mapping out a career path and investing in yourself to navigating tenure politics, this series will cover it all. In Part 3, we are breaking down an important aspect of academic life: the dissertation. Listen as our esteemed hosts share what it is and its importance on the path to PhD. Get ready to learn firsthand knowledge on the steps to successfully create your dissertation.  Jeremy’s Bio- Dr. Jeremy Waisome is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education where she conducts research on broadening participation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computing (STEM+C). She is particularly interested in understanding how formalized mentoring programs impact student trajectories and self-efficacy. Kyla’s Bio – Dr. Kyla McMullen earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was also a Meyerhoff Scholar. She earned her Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan (2007-2012). While earning her Ph.D. she was also a faculty member at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. At Wayne State University she taught computer literacy courses to over 2,000 students. Dr. McMullen is the first (and currently the only) woman of color to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan. She is currently a tenure-track faculty member in the University of Florida’s Computer &amp; Information Sciences &amp; Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields. She is the author of “Beautiful, Black, and Brainy” and “Brilliant is the New Black” which showcase hundreds of exceptional young African Americans who excel in STEM fields and don’t fit the typical “scientist” stereotype. In addition she is the cohost of a podcast series entitled Modern Figures, which focuses on elevating the voices of Black Women in Computing.

Episode 46 – Young, Gifted, and Black-ademic III Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/dr_kyla" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@Dr_Kyla</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/jeremywaisome" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@jeremywaisome</a> Episode Description: This episode is part of a series dedicated to giving Modern Figures Podcast listeners the inside scoop of a career in academia directly from our hosts. From mapping out a career path and investing in yourself to navigating tenure politics, this series will cover it all. In Part 3, we are breaking down an important aspect of academic life: the dissertation. Listen as our esteemed hosts share what it is and its importance on the path to PhD. Get ready to learn firsthand knowledge on the steps to successfully create your dissertation. Jeremy’s Bio- Dr. Jeremy Waisome is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education where she conducts research on broadening participation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computing (STEM+C). She is particularly interested in understanding how formalized mentoring programs impact student trajectories and self-efficacy. Kyla’s Bio – Dr. Kyla McMullen earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was also a Meyerhoff Scholar. She earned her Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan (2007-2012). While earning her Ph.D. she was also a faculty member at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. At Wayne State University she taught computer literacy courses to over 2,000 students. Dr. McMullen is the first (and currently the only) woman of color to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan. She is currently a tenure-track faculty member in the University of Florida’s Computer &amp; Information Sciences &amp; Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields. She is the author of “Beautiful, Black, and Brainy” and “Brilliant is the New Black” which showcase hundreds of exceptional young African Americans who excel in STEM fields and don’t fit the typical “scientist” stereotype. In addition she is the cohost of a podcast series entitled Modern Figures, which focuses on elevating the voices of Black Women in Computing.

Young, Gifted, and Black-ademic III  – Episode 046

Episode 45 – A Data Scientist For Humanity Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Brandeis Marshall Twitter: .@csdoctorsister Episode Description: Dr. Brandeis Marshall was able to combine her two loves: math and dance. What began as rolling coins for her mom led to a career in computing which placed her on the front end of “this internet thing”. Get ready for a multitude of funny and surprising stories outlining her journey to leadership. You can continue learning from Dr. Marshall by subscribing to her Rebel Tech newsletter or following her on Medium. Brandeis’ Bio – Brandeis teaches, speaks and writes about the impact of data practices on technology and society. Her work contributes to the data engineering, data science, and data/computer science education fields. Through Dr. Marshall’s data education firm DataedX, she guides current tech workers in building data equity skills. Her first book, Data Conscience: Algorithmic Siege on our Humanity, is expected to be released later in 2022. It unearths the interlocking computational and civic implications of data on digital processes, structures and institutions.

Episode 45 – A Data Scientist For Humanity Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Brandeis Marshall Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@csdoctorsister" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@csdoctorsister</a> Episode Description: Dr. Brandeis Marshall was able to combine her two loves: math and dance. What began as rolling coins for her mom led to a career in computing which placed her on the front end of “this internet thing”. Get ready for a multitude of funny and surprising stories outlining her journey to leadership. You can continue learning from Dr. Marshall by subscribing to her Rebel Tech newsletter or following her on <a href="https://medium.com/@brandeismarshall" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Medium</a>. Brandeis’ Bio – Brandeis teaches, speaks and writes about the impact of data practices on technology and society. Her work contributes to the data engineering, data science, and data/computer science education fields. Through Dr. Marshall’s data education firm DataedX, she guides current tech workers in building data equity skills. Her first book, Data Conscience: Algorithmic Siege on our Humanity, is expected to be released later in 2022. It unearths the interlocking computational and civic implications of data on digital processes, structures and institutions.

A Data Scientist For Humanity  – Episode 045

Episode 44 – Mechanical Engineers Compute Too Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Makita R. Phillips Twitter: .@HeyDrP Episode Description: At the suggestion of her middle school teacher, Dr. Makita R. Phillips began her journey of pursuing a career in mechanical engineering. She prides herself on living on faith and has had a multitude of experiences leading her around the country. Listen to this heart-warming conversation about showing up, living with intention and putting yourself first. Makita’s Bio – Dr. Makita R. Phillips is a Thermal Structural Analyst in the Air and Missile Defense Sector (AMDS) at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). Dr. Phillips uses computational analysis and her background in thermal and mechanical systems to determine the performance of flight systems. Prior to joining APL, she was an American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)/ National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Postdoctoral Fellow at Carbice Corporation and the Georgia Institute of Technology. She holds a B.S. and M.S in Mechanical Engineering from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering. She earned her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University where her research focused on the thermal management of superconducting coil systems. She is also a former University of California Los Angeles California Alliance Postdoctoral fellow.

Episode 44 – Mechanical Engineers Compute Too Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Makita R. Phillips Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@HeyDrP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@HeyDrP</a> Episode Description: At the suggestion of her middle school teacher, Dr. Makita R. Phillips began her journey of pursuing a career in mechanical engineering. She prides herself on living on faith and has had a multitude of experiences leading her around the country. Listen to this heart-warming conversation about showing up, living with intention and putting yourself first. Makita’s Bio – Dr. Makita R. Phillips is a Thermal Structural Analyst in the Air and Missile Defense Sector (AMDS) at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL). Dr. Phillips uses computational analysis and her background in thermal and mechanical systems to determine the performance of flight systems. Prior to joining APL, she was an American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)/ National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Postdoctoral Fellow at Carbice Corporation and the Georgia Institute of Technology. She holds a B.S. and M.S in Mechanical Engineering from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Engineering. She earned her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University where her research focused on the thermal management of superconducting coil systems. She is also a former University of California Los Angeles California Alliance Postdoctoral fellow.

Mechanical Engineers Compute Too  – Episode 044

Episode 43 – From Peace Corps To PhD Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Ihudiya Finda Williams Twitter: .@iogburu Episode Description: At the age of 14, Ihudiya Finda Williams knew 2 things: she loved to code and she wanted to be in the Peace Corps. On this episode, listen in as she shares lessons learned that led from corporate internships to Africa to Harvard. Ihudiya Finda’s Bio – Ihudiya Finda Williams is a Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Information at the University of Michigan. She is interested in understanding the impact of technology on low-income African Americans across the United States. She recognizes the great diversity of this community, and enjoys researching questions at the intersection of race, class, and technology. Her dissertation focuses on understanding the digital literacy experiences of formerly incarcerated African American men and their social support. She is an alumnus of Harvard Graduate School of Education and Rochester Institute of Technology. Prior to becoming a doctoral student, Ihudiya worked as a software engineer and product manager in various sectors of industry including Booz Allen Hamilton, Uplift Education Charter School, and the US. Department of State. Ms. Williams is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Botswana 2011 – 2014).

Episode 43 – From Peace Corps To PhD Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Ihudiya Finda Williams Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/iogburu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@iogburu</a> Episode Description: At the age of 14, Ihudiya Finda Williams knew 2 things: she loved to code and she wanted to be in the Peace Corps. On this episode, listen in as she shares lessons learned that led from corporate internships to Africa to Harvard. Ihudiya Finda’s Bio – Ihudiya Finda Williams is a Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Information at the University of Michigan. She is interested in understanding the impact of technology on low-income African Americans across the United States. She recognizes the great diversity of this community, and enjoys researching questions at the intersection of race, class, and technology. Her dissertation focuses on understanding the digital literacy experiences of formerly incarcerated African American men and their social support. She is an alumnus of Harvard Graduate School of Education and Rochester Institute of Technology. Prior to becoming a doctoral student, Ihudiya worked as a software engineer and product manager in various sectors of industry including Booz Allen Hamilton, Uplift Education Charter School, and the US. Department of State. Ms. Williams is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Botswana 2011 – 2014).

From Peace Corps To PhD  – Episode 043

Episode 42 – Young, Gifted, and Black-ademic II  Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen  Twitter: .@jeremywaisome .@Dr_Kyla Episode Description: This episode is part of a series dedicated to giving the Modern Figures Podcast listeners the inside scoop of a career in academia directly from our hosts, Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen. From mapping out a career path and investing in yourself to navigating tenure politics, this series will cover it all. Part two covers from making the decision and picking the right graduate school (for you) to identifying funding support to pay for it all. Additionally, listen as our hosts share pivotal lessons learned along their respective journeys that can help make your path smoother. Jeremy’s Bio – Dr. Jeremy Waisome is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education where she conducts research on broadening participation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computing (STEM+C). She is particularly interested in understanding how formalized mentoring programs impact student trajectories and self-efficacy. Kyla’s Bio – Dr. Kyla McMullen earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was also a Meyerhoff Scholar. She earned her Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan (2007-2012). While earning her Ph.D. she was also a faculty member at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. At Wayne State University she taught computer literacy courses to over 2,000 students. Dr. McMullen is the first (and currently the only) woman of color to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan. She is currently a tenure-track faculty member in the University of Florida’s Computer &amp; Information Sciences &amp; Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields. She is the author of “Beautiful, Black, and Brainy” and “Brilliant is the New Black” which showcase hundreds of exceptional young African Americans who excel in STEM fields and don’t fit the typical “scientist” stereotype. In addition she is the cohost of a podcast series entitled Modern Figures, which focuses on elevating the voices of Black Women in Computing.

Episode 42 – Young, Gifted, and Black-ademic II  Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeremywaisome" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@jeremywaisome</a> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@dr_kyla" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@Dr_Kyla</a> Episode Description: This episode is part of a series dedicated to giving the Modern Figures Podcast listeners the inside scoop of a career in academia directly from our hosts, Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen. From mapping out a career path and investing in yourself to navigating tenure politics, this series will cover it all. Part two covers from making the decision and picking the right graduate school (for you) to identifying funding support to pay for it all. Additionally, listen as our hosts share pivotal lessons learned along their respective journeys that can help make your path smoother. Jeremy’s Bio – Dr. Jeremy Waisome is an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education where she conducts research on broadening participation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computing (STEM+C). She is particularly interested in understanding how formalized mentoring programs impact student trajectories and self-efficacy. Kyla’s Bio – Dr. Kyla McMullen earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was also a Meyerhoff Scholar. She earned her Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan (2007-2012). While earning her Ph.D. she was also a faculty member at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. At Wayne State University she taught computer literacy courses to over 2,000 students. Dr. McMullen is the first (and currently the only) woman of color to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan. She is currently a tenure-track faculty member in the University of Florida’s Computer &amp; Information Sciences &amp; Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields. She is the author of “Beautiful, Black, and Brainy” and “Brilliant is the New Black” which showcase hundreds of exceptional young African Americans who excel in STEM fields and don’t fit the typical “scientist” stereotype. In addition she is the cohost of a podcast series entitled Modern Figures, which focuses on elevating the voices of Black Women in Computing.

Young, Gifted, and Black-ademic II  – Episode 042

Episode 41 – The Chic Geek Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. France Jackson Twitter:.@franceljackson Episode Description: Dr. France Jackson shares her journey from being the “smart girl” in elementary school to a PhD student working within the intersection of fashion and design-centered culture. She shares why authenticity can be a competitive advantage and how curating experiences has become a lucrative career.   France’s Bio –  Dr. France Jackson received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Human-Centered Computing (HCC) in 2018. Her undergraduate degrees in Industrial Engineering are from Clemson University. As a user-experience researcher and designer, her graduate research focused on creating immersive experiences at the cross-section of technology and popular culture including; fashion, gaming, and media. For her dissertation, she applied a female-driven user-centered design process to the development of three fashionable and socially acceptable wearable brain-computer interface (BCI) devices. 

Episode 41 – The Chic Geek Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. France Jackson Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/@franceljackson" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.@franceljackson</a> Episode Description: Dr. France Jackson shares her journey from being the “smart girl” in elementary school to a PhD student working within the intersection of fashion and design-centered culture. She shares why authenticity can be a competitive advantage and how curating experiences has become a lucrative career. France’s Bio – Dr. France Jackson received her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Human-Centered Computing (HCC) in 2018. Her undergraduate degrees in Industrial Engineering are from Clemson University. As a user-experience researcher and designer, her graduate research focused on creating immersive experiences at the cross-section of technology and popular culture including; fashion, gaming, and media. For her dissertation, she applied a female-driven user-centered design process to the development of three fashionable and socially acceptable wearable brain-computer interface (BCI) devices.

The Chic Geek  – Episode 041

Elevating the voices of Black women in computing

Excellent podcast. Very informative and inspiring.

I can’t fake humble

I lead the Rigor and Equity research agenda at CSforALL, and in my work with K-12 children across the US and abroad, being able to make relatable role models visible and real to students, especially students of color and young women, is critically important. I can’t recommend this podcast enough to CS and other STEM educators working to make careers real for their children. You can’t be what you can’t see—I’m grateful to the hosts for helping our students to see a whole lot more!

Grateful for the celebration of CURRENT role models

Modern Figures Podcast

Episode 16 – Holding Space and Interrogating Privilege Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Colleen Lewis LinkedIn – Dr. Colleen Lewis Twitter – @CSTeachingTips Web – CSTeachingTips.org Description:   Dr. Colleen Lewis is our favorite ally for underrepresented populations in computing. Though she is a white female, we felt it was important to bring her on to the podcast to showcase how she has leveraged her privilege to dismantle racist systems and structures to improve the experiences of others. In other words, she’s BEEN at the cookout, and now she’s on our podcast. Her work is at the intersection of computing and education, where she focuses on issues related to gender and diversity. You can often find Dr. Lewis at conferences presenting a workshop to help educators recognize and respond to bias through research-based scenarios, or as we refer to it: “Microaggressions – The Game.” This episode is filled with gems around effective strategies for feeling included if you don’t fit within the normative depiction of a computer scientist. There’s also a sweet segment about her friend named Irene, who introduced her to the world of computing. Our takeaway from this episode: get yourself an Irene! Or better yet, a Colleen. Bio: Hi, I’m Colleen Lewis, and I’m humbled to get to participate in the Modern Figures Podcast! In my conversation with Dr. McMullen and Dr. Waisome, I shared some of my experiences in college that suggested I was “not cut out for CS.” People might not have expected that I’d eventually become the McGregor-Girand Associate Professor of computer science at Harvey Mudd College. Learning takes time, and the bumps in my educational journey were evidence I hadn’t learned the CS concepts yet, but not that I would never learn them. My research seeks to identify effective teaching practices for creating equitable learning spaces where all students have the opportunity to learn. I curate CSTeachingTips.org, a NSF-sponsored project for disseminating effective computer science teaching practices. I’ve worked with Dr. Kyla McMullen to help computer scientists learn to recognize and respond to microaggressions and other biased statements. When a microaggression targets one of our identities, we might choose to ignore it and prioritize self-care. For example, as a White woman, I don’t always have the energy to respond to sexism, but I think it is my responsibility to challenge racism.

Episode 16 – Holding Space and Interrogating Privilege Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Colleen Lewis LinkedIn – <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewiscolleen/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Colleen Lewis</a> Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/CSTeachingTips" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@CSTeachingTips</a> Web – <a href="http://CSTeachingTips.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CSTeachingTips.org</a> Description:   Dr. Colleen Lewis is our favorite ally for underrepresented populations in computing. Though she is a white female, we felt it was important to bring her on to the podcast to showcase how she has leveraged her privilege to dismantle racist systems and structures to improve the experiences of others. In other words, she’s BEEN at the cookout, and now she’s on our podcast. Her work is at the intersection of computing and education, where she focuses on issues related to gender and diversity. You can often find Dr. Lewis at conferences presenting a workshop to help educators recognize and respond to bias through research-based scenarios, or as we refer to it: “Microaggressions – The Game.” This episode is filled with gems around effective strategies for feeling included if you don’t fit within the normative depiction of a computer scientist. There’s also a sweet segment about her friend named Irene, who introduced her to the world of computing. Our takeaway from this episode: get yourself an Irene! Or better yet, a Colleen. Bio: Hi, I’m Colleen Lewis, and I’m humbled to get to participate in the Modern Figures Podcast! In my conversation with Dr. McMullen and Dr. Waisome, I shared some of my experiences in college that suggested I was “not cut out for CS.” People might not have expected that I’d eventually become the McGregor-Girand Associate Professor of computer science at Harvey Mudd College. Learning takes time, and the bumps in my educational journey were evidence I hadn’t learned the CS concepts yet, but not that I would never learn them. My research seeks to identify effective teaching practices for creating equitable learning spaces where all students have the opportunity to learn. I curate <a href="http://CSTeachingTips.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CSTeachingTips.org</a>, a NSF-sponsored project for disseminating effective computer science teaching practices. I’ve worked with Dr. Kyla McMullen to help computer scientists learn to recognize and respond to microaggressions and other biased statements. When a microaggression targets one of our identities, we might choose to ignore it and prioritize self-care. For example, as a White woman, I don’t always have the energy to respond to sexism, but I think it is my responsibility to challenge racism.

Holding Space and Interrogating Privilege – Episode 016

Purchase the Book Episode 20 – Blazing Trails: Catch this Smoke Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Nicki Washington Website: www.nickiwashington.com Instagram: @drnickiw Twitter: @dr_nickiw LinkedIn: A. Nicki Washington Description: Dr. Nicki Washington is unapologetically dope. She literally wrote the book. No, seriously! Her book entitled, Unapologetically Dope: Lessons for Black Women and Girls on Surviving and Thriving in the Tech Field, is just one of the many reasons you want to know this Modern Figure. She is a trailblazer, and is working tirelessly on ensuring pathways into tech remain available to the next generation of the black tech workforce. Nicki is also one of our favorite people to follow on social media. Her fiery passion shines through whether she’s speaking on current events or just taking an internet troll to task for challenging her expert opinion. Bio: Dr. Nicki Washington is an associate professor of computer science at Winthrop University and the author of Unapologetically Dope: Lessons for Black Women and Girls on Surviving and Thriving in the Tech. She previously spent nine years at Howard University as the first Black female faculty member in the Department of Computer Science. Her professional experience also includes The Aerospace Corporation and IBM. Recognized as one of Essence Magazine’s “Essence Tech Stars: 15 Black Women Disrupting the Tech Industry,” Dr. Washington has led partnerships with the Howard University Middle School of Math and Science, Google, Exploring Computer Science, and Washington, DC Public Schools to introduce computer science courses and teacher professional development across Washington, DC high schools. She was a lead writer for the K-12 CS Framework (led by Code.org) and South Carolina K-12 Computer Science and Digital Literacy Standards. Her efforts in K-12 CS education have directly impacted approximately 10 million K-12 students and thousands of educators in over 20 states and Washington, DC, and they will continue to impact more nationwide as additional states develop K-12 CS standards. She is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University (B.S., ‘00) and North Carolina State University (M.S., ’02; Ph.D., ’05), becoming the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. at the university and 2019 Computer Science Hall of Fame Inductee. She is a native of Durham, NC.

Purchase the Book Episode 20 – Blazing Trails: Catch this Smoke Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Nicki Washington Website: <a href="http://www.nickiwashington.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.nickiwashington.com</a> Instagram: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/drnickiw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@</a><a href="http://www.instagram.com/drnickiw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">drnickiw</a> Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/dr_nickiw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@</a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/dr_nickiw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dr_nickiw</a> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnickiw/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A. Nicki Washington</a> Description: Dr. Nicki Washington is unapologetically dope. She literally wrote the book. No, seriously! Her book entitled, <a href="https://nickiwashington.com/product/unapologetically-dope/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unapologetically Dope: Lessons for Black Women and Girls on Surviving and Thriving in the Tech Field</a>, is just one of the many reasons you want to know this Modern Figure. She is a trailblazer, and is working tirelessly on ensuring pathways into tech remain available to the next generation of the black tech workforce. Nicki is also one of our favorite people to follow on social media. Her fiery passion shines through whether she’s speaking on current events or just taking an internet troll to task for challenging her expert opinion. Bio: Dr. Nicki Washington is an associate professor of computer science at Winthrop University and the author of Unapologetically Dope: Lessons for Black Women and Girls on Surviving and Thriving in the Tech. She previously spent nine years at Howard University as the first Black female faculty member in the Department of Computer Science. Her professional experience also includes The Aerospace Corporation and IBM. Recognized as one of Essence Magazine’s “Essence Tech Stars: 15 Black Women Disrupting the Tech Industry,” Dr. Washington has led partnerships with the Howard University Middle School of Math and Science, Google, Exploring Computer Science, and Washington, DC Public Schools to introduce computer science courses and teacher professional development across Washington, DC high schools. She was a lead writer for the K-12 CS Framework (led by <a href="http://Code.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Code.org</a>) and South Carolina K-12 Computer Science and Digital Literacy Standards. Her efforts in K-12 CS education have directly impacted approximately 10 million K-12 students and thousands of educators in over 20 states and Washington, DC, and they will continue to impact more nationwide as additional states develop K-12 CS standards. She is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University (B.S., ‘00) and North Carolina State University (M.S., ’02; Ph.D., ’05), becoming the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. at the university and 2019 Computer Science Hall of Fame Inductee. She is a native of Durham, NC.

Blazing Trails: Catch this Smoke – Episode 020

Episode 13 – In charge, INTech, and in grad school Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Khalia Braswell Instagram – @digital.diva, @intechcamp Twitter – @KhaliaBraswell Web – https://www.khaliabraswell.com,  https://intechcamp.org Description: Imagine taking a leap of faith to start something new when you’re already secure in your perceived dream tech job. Khalia Braswell took the reins of her career to pursue her dream of creating an organization that serves her community and it is thriving. And now, she’s fulfilling a new dream of obtaining a doctoral degree. Learn how she navigated the twists and turns she encountered along the way. Bio: Khalia Braswell is an award winning technologist, whose personal mission is to make a social change using technology. Khalia graduated from Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology in 2008. She went on to study at North Carolina State University, graduating with a BS in Computer Science. In 2016, she also obtained her Masters in Information Technology with a concentration in Human Computer Interaction. Khalia is currently the Founder and Executive Director of INTech Camp for Girls, a non-profit whose mission is to inform and inspire girls to innovate in the technology industry. INTech targets girls in grades 6th – 12th through summer camps and after school programs, which teaches them how to build software solutions, introduces them to women of color in tech, and allows them to explore tech careers at various companies across the Carolina’s.  As a speaker and moderator, Khalia has given a TEDx talk highlighting ways to get more Black and Latinx girls in tech. She has also shared stages with notable leaders including John B. King Jr., former US Secretary of Education, and senior executives at Apple among others. She has also presented at Northwestern University, Apple, and the Grace Hopper Celebration of Diversity in Computing. She has been featured in Forbes, The Root, Charlotte Observer, and more. Braswell was previously a user experience engineer at Apple in Cupertino, California where she helped design enterprise applications, which reached all Apple employees. She has been named to the 2016 Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce 30 Under 30 list, the 2017 North Carolina State University Computer Science Outstanding Young Alumni list, 2018 NAF Alumni Honoree’s, and the 2018 Root 100 list of the most influential young African Americans. Khalia has also received the 2018 Walker’s Legacy Women of Power award, the 2019 BlackcomputeHER “Lift As We Climb” award, and the Emerald Elegance Award For Technology from the Alpha Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc .  Braswell is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the National Society of Black Engineers.

Episode 13 – In charge, INTech, and in grad school Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Khalia Braswell Instagram – <a href="https://www.instagram.com/digital.diva" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@digital.diva</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/intechcamp/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@intechcamp</a> Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/khaliabraswell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@KhaliaBraswell</a> Web – <a href="https://www.khaliabraswell.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.khaliabraswell.com</a>,  <a href="https://intechcamp.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://intechcamp.org</a> Description: Imagine taking a leap of faith to start something new when you’re already secure in your perceived dream tech job. Khalia Braswell took the reins of her career to pursue her dream of creating an organization that serves her community and it is thriving. And now, she’s fulfilling a new dream of obtaining a doctoral degree. Learn how she navigated the twists and turns she encountered along the way. Bio: Khalia Braswell is an award winning technologist, whose personal mission is to make a social change using technology. Khalia graduated from Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology in 2008. She went on to study at North Carolina State University, graduating with a BS in Computer Science. In 2016, she also obtained her Masters in Information Technology with a concentration in Human Computer Interaction. Khalia is currently the Founder and Executive Director of INTech Camp for Girls, a non-profit whose mission is to inform and inspire girls to innovate in the technology industry. INTech targets girls in grades 6th – 12th through summer camps and after school programs, which teaches them how to build software solutions, introduces them to women of color in tech, and allows them to explore tech careers at various companies across the Carolina’s.  As a speaker and moderator, Khalia has given a TEDx talk highlighting ways to get more Black and Latinx girls in tech. She has also shared stages with notable leaders including John B. King Jr., former US Secretary of Education, and senior executives at Apple among others. She has also presented at Northwestern University, Apple, and the Grace Hopper Celebration of Diversity in Computing. She has been featured in Forbes, The Root, Charlotte Observer, and more. Braswell was previously a user experience engineer at Apple in Cupertino, California where she helped design enterprise applications, which reached all Apple employees. She has been named to the 2016 Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce 30 Under 30 list, the 2017 North Carolina State University Computer Science Outstanding Young Alumni list, 2018 NAF Alumni Honoree’s, and the 2018 Root 100 list of the most influential young African Americans. Khalia has also received the 2018 Walker’s Legacy Women of Power award, the 2019 BlackcomputeHER “Lift As We Climb” award, and the Emerald Elegance Award For Technology from the Alpha Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc .  Braswell is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and the National Society of Black Engineers.

In charge, INTech, and in grad school – Episode 013

Episode 19 – Lessons from a 14-year old Tech Boss Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Moria Bowman Zinger Website – Zinger App  Description: At 14 years of age, Jeremy and Kyla couldn’t have imagined being the CEO of a tech company. Today’s guest, Moria Bowman, has been working on businesses since she was 10! Growing up in an entrepreneurial family inspires her drive to create and sustain her companies. But she has no plans to involve her other siblings. As a homeschooler, her time is a bit more flexible than other kids her age. This gives Moria time to invest in her company. Zinger, is a ride-share app designed to protect its users from danger. Listen in and more about this young tech boss and what she’s doing to improve safety on the road.

Episode 19 – Lessons from a 14-year old Tech Boss Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Moria Bowman Zinger Website – <a href="https://zingerapp.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zinger App </a> Description: At 14 years of age, Jeremy and Kyla couldn’t have imagined being the CEO of a tech company. Today’s guest, Moria Bowman, has been working on businesses since she was 10! Growing up in an entrepreneurial family inspires her drive to create and sustain her companies. But she has no plans to involve her other siblings. As a homeschooler, her time is a bit more flexible than other kids her age. This gives Moria time to invest in her company. Zinger, is a ride-share app designed to protect its users from danger. Listen in and more about this young tech boss and what she’s doing to improve safety on the road.

Lessons from a 14 Year Old Tech Boss – Episode 019

Episode 15 – Big Goals &amp; Big Data Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Renata Rawlings-Goss  LinkedIn – Dr. Renata Rawlings-Goss Twitter – @GossRenata Web – Good With Data Description: Would you say no to the Alvin-Ailey Dance School? Dr. Renata Rawlings-Goss did in the name of science! Though she was enrolled in a competitive performing arts program during high school, a PBS commercial inspired her to pursue an interest in astrophysics. Her undergraduate experiences at Florida Agricultural &amp; Mechanical University ultimately catalyzed her desire to pursue graduate school. Though she is a biophysicist by training, Dr. Rawlings-Goss currently serves as the founding Executive Director of the South Big Data Innovation Hub where she helps industry leaders leverage data science to identify solutions at the regional and national level. Learn about how she translated her skills into the discipline of computing through research. Bio: Dr. Renata Rawlings-Goss is a nationally recognized leader in Data Science and the founder of The Data Career Academy, a 5-week intensive for professionals and faculty looking to accelerate their careers with data, manage large scale data projects, grow a data science network, get introduced to thought leaders-including hiring managers, and get live help in creating a personalized strategic data career plan. Dr. Rawlings-Goss is the Executive Director of the South Big Data Innovation Hub, an NSF funded 16 state center connecting industry, academia, and government around data science innovation, as well as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Georgia Institute of Technology- Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS). Formerly, Dr. Rawlings-Goss worked with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, under President Obama’s administration, founding the National Data Science Organizers and co-leading the writing team for the Federal Big Data Strategic Plan. Through her roles, she has served as an executive strategist, career mentor, and policy advisor to Fortune 500 companies, individuals, as well as over 19 federal and state government agencies around data science education, Big Data, Digital Transformation, Public-Private Partnerships, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning, Data Career Success, Professional Development and Data Innovation. Author of “Data Careers, Training, and Hiring” published by SpringerPress, her work has been recognized in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and as one of President Obama’s top 100 Impacts in Science and Technology.

Episode 15 – Big Goals &amp; Big Data Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Dr. Renata Rawlings-Goss  LinkedIn – <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/afiimani/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Renata Rawlings-Goss</a> Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/GossRenata" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@GossRenata</a> Web – <a href="https://goodwithdata.us/the-data-career-academy-intro/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Good With Data</a> Description: Would you say no to the Alvin-Ailey Dance School? Dr. Renata Rawlings-Goss did in the name of science! Though she was enrolled in a competitive performing arts program during high school, a PBS commercial inspired her to pursue an interest in astrophysics. Her undergraduate experiences at Florida Agricultural &amp; Mechanical University ultimately catalyzed her desire to pursue graduate school. Though she is a biophysicist by training, Dr. Rawlings-Goss currently serves as the founding Executive Director of the South Big Data Innovation Hub where she helps industry leaders leverage data science to identify solutions at the regional and national level. Learn about how she translated her skills into the discipline of computing through research. Bio: Dr. Renata Rawlings-Goss is a nationally recognized leader in Data Science and the founder of The Data Career Academy, a 5-week intensive for professionals and faculty looking to accelerate their careers with data, manage large scale data projects, grow a data science network, get introduced to thought leaders-including hiring managers, and get live help in creating a personalized strategic data career plan. Dr. Rawlings-Goss is the Executive Director of the South Big Data Innovation Hub, an NSF funded 16 state center connecting industry, academia, and government around data science innovation, as well as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Georgia Institute of Technology- Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS). Formerly, Dr. Rawlings-Goss worked with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, under President Obama’s administration, founding the National Data Science Organizers and co-leading the writing team for the Federal Big Data Strategic Plan. Through her roles, she has served as an executive strategist, career mentor, and policy advisor to Fortune 500 companies, individuals, as well as over 19 federal and state government agencies around data science education, Big Data, Digital Transformation, Public-Private Partnerships, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning, Data Career Success, Professional Development and Data Innovation. Author of “Data Careers, Training, and Hiring” published by SpringerPress, her work has been recognized in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and as one of President Obama’s top 100 Impacts in Science and Technology.

Big Goals & Big Data – Episode 015

Episode 12 – Squad Goals Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Isa Watson Instagram – @isadwatson Twitter – @isadwatson Web – https://www.isawatson.com Description: Join us as we chat with Isa Watson. She talks about her childhood rooted in curiosity, kindness, and humility, fostered by her parents. Hear about her experience transitioning from the HBCU community to an Ivy League. Though she began as a Chemistry major, Isa skillfully navigated Silicon Valley, and is now the CEO of a Tech Company called “Squad”, which raised nearly $4mm in venture capital funding and has scaled rapidly. She has always been a believer in the importance of community at all stages, and her story will inspire you to do the same. Bio: A Caribbean girl in America, Isa (pronounced EYE-suh) is an Inc 30 under 30 entrepreneur and a classical pianist. She is the Founder and CEO of Squad, a leader in the newly coined “connection economy.” Squad’s app helps millennials + gen-z build their offline + IRL connections in real human ways. A scientist at heart, she loves bringing heavy data and a fresh perspective to fundamental human problems. Isa grew up in Chapel Hill, NC and started her career as a chemist for the metabolic diseases group at Pfizer before pivoting over to the world of business. After getting her MBA, Isa worked as a VP of Strategy and Business Development at JPMorgan Chase before deciding that her real interest was in applying her medley of skills towards problems affecting local communities. She founded Envested in 2015 to merge her various experiences into one awesome company. Some of her prior accolades include the “40 Under 40” Award from the Robert Toigo Foundation and 1st place in the Annual Business Plan Competition at Harvard Business School with Vaxess Technologies.  Isa has earned an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an MS in Pharmacology from Cornell, and a BS in Chemistry from Hampton University. She is a very active member of the MIT Sloan Executive Alumni Board.

Episode 12 – Squad Goals Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Isa Watson Instagram – <a href="https://www.instagram.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@isadwatson</a> Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/isadwatson" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@isadwatson</a> Web – <a href="https://www.isawatson.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.isawatson.com</a> Description: Join us as we chat with Isa Watson. She talks about her childhood rooted in curiosity, kindness, and humility, fostered by her parents. Hear about her experience transitioning from the HBCU community to an Ivy League. Though she began as a Chemistry major, Isa skillfully navigated Silicon Valley, and is now the CEO of a Tech Company called “Squad”, which raised nearly $4mm in venture capital funding and has scaled rapidly. She has always been a believer in the importance of community at all stages, and her story will inspire you to do the same. Bio: A Caribbean girl in America, Isa (pronounced EYE-suh) is an Inc 30 under 30 entrepreneur and a classical pianist. She is the Founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.withyoursquad.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Squad</a>, a leader in the newly coined “connection economy.” Squad’s app helps millennials + gen-z build their offline + IRL connections in real human ways. A scientist at heart, she loves bringing heavy data and a fresh perspective to fundamental human problems. Isa grew up in Chapel Hill, NC and started her career as a chemist for the metabolic diseases group at Pfizer before pivoting over to the world of business. After getting her MBA, Isa worked as a VP of Strategy and Business Development at JPMorgan Chase before deciding that her real interest was in applying her medley of skills towards problems affecting local communities. She founded Envested in 2015 to merge her various experiences into one awesome company. Some of her prior accolades include the “40 Under 40” Award from the Robert Toigo Foundation and 1st place in the Annual Business Plan Competition at Harvard Business School with Vaxess Technologies.  Isa has earned an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an MS in Pharmacology from Cornell, and a BS in Chemistry from Hampton University. She is a very active member of the MIT Sloan Executive Alumni Board.

Squad Goals – Episode 012

Episode 11 – Started from the Java, Now We Here Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome Guest: Dr. Kyla McMullen(@Dr_Kyla (Twitter), @drkylanol (IG)) of Modern Figures Podcast Description: In this episode, Dr. Kyla McMullen takes a seat on the opposite side of the podcast table to become a guest for the day.  Dr. McMullen talks about her journey into computing, although she could not have cared less about school as a student. Today, her work in 3D audio is being used to augment interfaces in virtual and augmented reality, as well as gain insights on spatial audio perception. Tune in as Dr. McMullen tells her own unique super-shero origin story. Bio: Description: Dr. Kyla McMullen earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was also a Meyerhoff Scholar.  She earned her Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan (2007-2012). While earning her Ph.D. she was also a faculty member at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.  At Wayne State University she taught computer literacy courses to over 2,000 students.  Dr. McMullen is the first (and currently the only) woman of color to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan. She is currently a tenure-track faculty member in the University of Florida’s Computer &amp; Information Sciences &amp; Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields. She is the author of “Beautiful, Black, and Brainy” and “Brilliant is the New Black” which showcase hundreds of exceptional young African Americans who excel in STEM fields and don’t fit the typical “scientist” stereotype. Dr. McMullen’s research interests are in the perception, applications, and development of 3D audio technologies. In this line of research, sounds are digitally filtered such that when they are played over headphones, the listener perceives the sound as being emitted from a specific location in their own physical space. Think of it as “surround sound over headphones”. She is using this research to create realistic virtual environments, enhance data sonification, augment assistive technologies for persons with visual impairments, and decrease cognitive load in multimodal systems. She has recently earned the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award to further support her research in this area. She is also the PI of an NSF S-STEM award to augment the financial load of graduate school for PhD students. Dr. McMullen is also senior personnel for NSF’s Institute for African-American Mentoring in Computing Sciences (iAAMCS) effort to broaden participation in the field of computing. In this role, she has served as the conference chair for the National Society of Blacks in Computing. The conference gathers Black computing student, faculty, and industry professionals for professional development, career progress, networking, and bonding. In addition, Dr. McMullen  co-hosts Modern Figures Podcast, elevating the voices of Black women in computing. This podcast is a collaborative effort iAAMCS and The National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT ) to highlight the often neglected stories of Black women in computing.

Episode 11 – Started from the Java, Now We Here Host: Dr. Jeremy Waisome Guest: Dr. Kyla McMullen(<a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_Kyla" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@Dr_Kyla (Twitter)</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drkylanol/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@drkylanol (IG)</a>) of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/modernfigurespodcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Modern Figures Podcast</a> Description: In this episode, Dr. Kyla McMullen takes a seat on the opposite side of the podcast table to become a guest for the day.  Dr. McMullen talks about her journey into computing, although she could not have cared less about school as a student. Today, her work in 3D audio is being used to augment interfaces in virtual and augmented reality, as well as gain insights on spatial audio perception. Tune in as Dr. McMullen tells her own unique super-shero origin story. Bio: Description: Dr. Kyla McMullen earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), where she was also a Meyerhoff Scholar.  She earned her Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan (2007-2012). While earning her Ph.D. she was also a faculty member at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.  At Wayne State University she taught computer literacy courses to over 2,000 students.  Dr. McMullen is the first (and currently the only) woman of color to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan. She is currently a tenure-track faculty member in the University of Florida’s Computer &amp; Information Sciences &amp; Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields. She is the author of “<a href="http://www.kylamcmullen.com/Articles/black-female-scientists.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beautiful, Black, and Brainy</a>” and “<a href="http://www.kylamcmullen.com/Articles/brilliant-is-the-new-black.html#sthash.TFFpTywv.dpbs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brilliant is the New Black</a>” which showcase hundreds of exceptional young African Americans who excel in STEM fields and don’t fit the typical “scientist” stereotype. Dr. McMullen’s research interests are in the perception, applications, and development of 3D audio technologies. In this line of research, sounds are digitally filtered such that when they are played over headphones, the listener perceives the sound as being emitted from a specific location in their own physical space. Think of it as “surround sound over headphones”. She is using this research to create realistic virtual environments, enhance data sonification, augment assistive technologies for persons with visual impairments, and decrease cognitive load in multimodal systems. She has recently earned the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award to further support her research in this area. She is also the PI of an NSF S-STEM award to augment the financial load of graduate school for PhD students. Dr. McMullen is also senior personnel for NSF’s <a href="http://iaamcs.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Institute for African-American Mentoring in Computing Sciences</a> (iAAMCS) effort to broaden participation in the field of computing. In this role, she has served as the conference chair for the <a href="http://nsbc.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Society of Blacks in Computing</a>. The conference gathers Black computing student, faculty, and industry professionals for professional development, career progress, networking, and bonding. In addition, Dr. McMullen  co-hosts <a href="https://modernfigurespodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Modern Figures Podcast</a>, elevating the voices of Black women in computing. This podcast is a collaborative effort iAAMCS and The National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT ) to highlight the often neglected stories of Black women in computing.

Started from the Java, Now We Here – Episode 011

Episode 14 – Pink &amp; Green Robot Queen Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: De’Aira Bryant Instagram – @DeeGotRobots Twitter – @DeeGotRobots Web – www.deairabryant.com Description:  De’Aira is a graduate student conducting interdisciplinary research focused on helping children through social robotics at Georgia Institute of Technology. Listen in as she discusses what it’s like to be a “high profile graduate student” traveling the world, sharing how we can leverage artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, ethics, and machine learning to improve outcomes for society. Her experiences now are a long way from those she had in her hometown in South Carolina within the “Corridor of Shame.” Her unconventional route into computing is hilarious but shows just how important mentorship and community is for Black women in computing. Bio: De’Aira Bryant is a third-year computer science Ph.D. student in the School of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research areas span the fields of human-robot interaction, artificial intelligence and cognitive science. As a graduate researcher in the Human-Automation Systems (HumAnS) Lab, her studies explore the possibilities for interactive communication between children and social robots. She is especially passionate about the fair and ethical use of AI for social good and the protection of vulnerable populations.  Prior to attending Georgia Tech for her graduate studies, De’Aira graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. She is a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the National GEM Consortium Fellowship, the SLOAN Minority PhD Fellowship and the Lillie J. James Computer Science award.  Hailing from the small town of Estill, South Carolina, De’Aira is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has demonstrated a long history of service work and is particularly involved in a variety of computer science and robotics outreach programs. De’Aira even recently gave a TEDx talk entitled “Paying it Forward with Social Robots.” In the long term, she dreams of pursuing a career in academia to further inspire and promote computer science education for all students.

Episode 14 – Pink &amp; Green Robot Queen Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: De’Aira Bryant Instagram – <a href="https://www.instagram.com/digital.diva" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@DeeGotRobots</a> Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/khaliabraswell" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@DeeGotRobots</a> Web – <a href="http://www.deairabryant.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.deairabryant.com</a> Description:  De’Aira is a graduate student conducting interdisciplinary research focused on helping children through social robotics at Georgia Institute of Technology. Listen in as she discusses what it’s like to be a “high profile graduate student” traveling the world, sharing how we can leverage artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, ethics, and machine learning to improve outcomes for society. Her experiences now are a long way from those she had in her hometown in South Carolina within the “Corridor of Shame.” Her unconventional route into computing is hilarious but shows just how important mentorship and community is for Black women in computing. Bio: De’Aira Bryant is a third-year computer science Ph.D. student in the School of Interactive Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research areas span the fields of human-robot interaction, artificial intelligence and cognitive science. As a graduate researcher in the Human-Automation Systems (HumAnS) Lab, her studies explore the possibilities for interactive communication between children and social robots. She is especially passionate about the fair and ethical use of AI for social good and the protection of vulnerable populations. Prior to attending Georgia Tech for her graduate studies, De’Aira graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. She is a recipient of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the National GEM Consortium Fellowship, the SLOAN Minority PhD Fellowship and the Lillie J. James Computer Science award. Hailing from the small town of Estill, South Carolina, De’Aira is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has demonstrated a long history of service work and is particularly involved in a variety of computer science and robotics outreach programs. De’Aira even recently gave a TEDx talk entitled “Paying it Forward with Social Robots.” In the long term, she dreams of pursuing a career in academia to further inspire and promote computer science education for all students.

Pink & Green Robot Queen – Episode 014

Episode 18 – Securing the Bag with Digital Swag Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Jasmine Bowers Guest and Host Shirts are in Our Store Website – www.jasminebowers.com LinkedIn – Jasmine Bowers Instagram – @JasmineDBowers Twitter – @JasmineDBowers Description: Jasmine Bowers is a doctoral candidate researching digital finance privacy and security at the University of Florida. She’s known since 11th grade that she wanted to be Dr. Bowers but navigating how to get there has been an unexpected journey. She’s seen quite a bit of success publishing and presenting her work, and finding ways to incorporate hip-hop titles per her research advisor. Finding ways to better communicate privacy policies is so important, and usable security is what she’s passionate about. Hopefully, through her doctoral research mo(bile) money won’t mean mo(re) problems! We also learn about the ways in which she’s found ways to set goals and  manage her expectations. Bio: Jasmine Bowers is a 5th-year computer science Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida, where she focuses on the privacy and security of digital finance mobile applications under the advisement of Dr. Patrick Traynor. She has published several conference papers, including Regulators, Mount Up! Analysis of Privacy Policies for Mobile Money Services (SOUPS 2017) and Characterizing Security and Privacy Practices in Emerging Digital Credit Applications (WISEC 2019). During her tenure, she has also contributed to several journal publications, including *droid: Assessment and Evaluation of Android Application Analysis Tools ( ACM Computing Surveys 2019) and Mo(bile) Money, Mo(bile) Problems: Analysis of Branchless Banking Applications ( ACM TOPS 2017) . In 2015, Jasmine entered the University of Florida Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) department and the Florida Institute for Cybersecurity (FICS) research lab as a GEM Fellowship scholar.  She currently serves as a graduate mentor in the University of Florida Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. This training program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and designed to support low-income/first-generation and underrepresented undergraduate students in their pursuit of a Ph.D. In the summer of 2018, Jasmine served a law clerk at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington, D.C.based public interest research center that aims to focus public attention on emerging privacy and civil liberties issues. She worked alongside notable attorneys and law students on critical technology and privacy issues. She served as a technical expert during meetings and significantly contributed content for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, government agency requests for comments, as well as the EPIC website content. Jasmine applied her mobile application analysis skills to contribute technical expertise to an ongoing case.  Most recently in the summer of 2019, Jasmine served as a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Office of Technology (OTech) summer intern. Jasmine earned two B.S. degrees in mathematics and computer science from Fort Valley State University (FVSU) and earned an M.S. in computer science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT).Jasmine’s passion is helping others, specifically encouraging students to pursue an education in computer science.

Episode 18 – Securing the Bag with Digital Swag Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome &amp; Dr. Kyla McMullen Guest: Jasmine Bowers <a href="https://modern-figures-podcast-merch.myshopify.com/products/the-jasmine-tee?variant=32760040358024" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Guest and Host Shirts are in Our Store</a> Website – <a href="http://www.jasminebowers.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.jasminebowers.com</a> LinkedIn – <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminebowers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jasmine Bowers</a> Instagram – <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jasminedbowers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@JasmineDBowers</a> Twitter – <a href="https://twitter.com/jasminedbowers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@JasmineDBowers</a> Description: Jasmine Bowers is a doctoral candidate researching digital finance privacy and security at the University of Florida. She’s known since 11th grade that she wanted to be Dr. Bowers but navigating how to get there has been an unexpected journey. She’s seen quite a bit of success publishing and presenting her work, and finding ways to incorporate hip-hop titles per her research advisor. Finding ways to better communicate privacy policies is so important, and usable security is what she’s passionate about. Hopefully, through her doctoral research mo(bile) money won’t mean mo(re) problems! We also learn about the ways in which she’s found ways to set goals and  manage her expectations. Bio: Jasmine Bowers is a 5th-year computer science Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida, where she focuses on the privacy and security of digital finance mobile applications under the advisement of Dr. Patrick Traynor. She has published several conference papers, including Regulators, Mount Up! Analysis of Privacy Policies for Mobile Money Services (SOUPS 2017) and Characterizing Security and Privacy Practices in Emerging Digital Credit Applications (WISEC 2019). During her tenure, she has also contributed to several journal publications, including *droid: Assessment and Evaluation of Android Application Analysis Tools ( ACM Computing Surveys 2019) and Mo(bile) Money, Mo(bile) Problems: Analysis of Branchless Banking Applications ( ACM TOPS 2017) . In 2015, Jasmine entered the University of Florida Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) department and the Florida Institute for Cybersecurity (FICS) research lab as a GEM Fellowship scholar.  She currently serves as a graduate mentor in the University of Florida Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. This training program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and designed to support low-income/first-generation and underrepresented undergraduate students in their pursuit of a Ph.D. In the summer of 2018, Jasmine served a law clerk at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington, D.C.based public interest research center that aims to focus public attention on emerging privacy and civil liberties issues. She worked alongside notable attorneys and law students on critical technology and privacy issues. She served as a technical expert during meetings and significantly contributed content for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, government agency requests for comments, as well as the EPIC website content. Jasmine applied her mobile application analysis skills to contribute technical expertise to an ongoing case.  Most recently in the summer of 2019, Jasmine served as a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Office of Technology (OTech) summer intern. Jasmine earned two B.S. degrees in mathematics and computer science from Fort Valley State University (FVSU) and earned an M.S. in computer science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCAT). Jasmine’s passion is helping others, specifically encouraging students to pursue an education in computer science.

Securing the Bag with Digital Swag – Episode 018

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