The HBCU Data Science Consortium presents its annual Data Science Celebration on April 11 – April 12, 2025 in Huntsville, Alabama. Join us as we cultivate our professional learning community and network around data science education and research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We invite both HBCU faculty and student participation to disseminate their research and student engagement projects around data science topics. In addition to faculty and student professional development in data science, the event will also promote funding, partnership and collaboration opportunities. Our new HBCU-Data Science Student Ambassadors are invited to disseminate chapter outcomes and gain ideas as well as strategies for future planning.
2024 Speakers
Dr. Scott Zoldi
FICO Chief Analytics Officer
Dr. Scott Zoldi
Dr. Scott Zoldi is chief analytics officer at FICO, responsible for artificial intelligence (AI) and analytic innovation across FICO's product and technology solutions. While at FICO, he has authored more than 120+ analytic patents, with 88 granted and 39 pending. Scott is an industry leader at the forefront of Responsible AI, and an outspoken proponent of AI governance and regulation. His groundbreaking work in AI model development governance, including a patented use of blockchain technology for this application, has helped propel Scott to AI visionary status, with recent awards received including a Future Thinking Award at Corinium Global’s Business of Data Gala. Scott serves on the Boards of Directors of Software San Diego and San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence. He received his Ph.D. degree in theoretical and computational physics from Duke University.
Dr. Lethia S. Jackson
Professor and Chair, Department of Technology and Security, Bowie State University
Dr. Lethia S. Jackson
Dr. Lethia Jackson, a full professor and founding chair
of the Department of Technology & Security. Dr.
Jackson holds a terminal degree in Computer Science from
The George Washington University, a Master’s degree in
Computer Science from North Carolina State University
and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science
from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical
University Later, she completed a Post-Doctoral
Certificate in Academic Leadership from The Chicago
School of Psychology in Washington, DC. In 2012 – 2013,
she was a member of Preparing Critical Faculty for the
Future, Next Generation STEM Learning: Investigate,
Innovate, Inspire, funded by National Science
Foundation.
Listed as one of 1000 Inspiring Black Scientist in
America posted by The Community of Scholars, Jackson has
acquired over twenty (20) industry and government
partners who have provided internships, equipment
donations, membership on the external advisory board,
academic training modules, industry-level
certifications, articulation agreements, and service-
learning projects to the department. Additionally, she
structured a collaboration with four in- state and
out-of-state entities including universities,
businesses, public school districts, and community
colleges utilizing a $25 Million dollar grant
opportunity.
Jackson has written and spoken on cybersecurity,
Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science for the State
Of Maryland as well as the infusion of technology in the
local public school systems to include Prince George’s,
Howard and Baltimore City Counties.
Dr. Gloria Washington
Associate Professor of Computer Science, Howard University
Dr. Gloria Washington
Dr. Gloria Washington is an Associate Professor of
Computer Science at Howard University, a private,
historically Black research institution located in
Washington, DC. At Howard, Dr. Washington is Director of
the Institute for Socially and Culturally Relevant
Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HCAI) and the
Affective Biometrics Lab (ABL).
Dr. Washington’s research focuses on the intersection of
human-centered computing, affective computing, and
biometrics. She believes her research seeks to give
voices to the underserved and marginalized by asking
questions like: “how can technology impact positive
human emotions while reducing systematic racism and
barriers to equity and how can technology build lasting
social impact through requiring persons to feel
empathy…not just look away?”
She has more than fifteen years in Government service
and has broadly presented her research throughout
industry. Dr. Washington holds a BS in Computer
Information Systems from Lincoln University of Missouri,
and MS and PhD degrees in CS from The George Washington
University.
Velma Latson, D.M.
Assistant Professor, Department of Technology & Security, Bowie State University
Velma Latson, D.M.
Dr. Velma Latson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Technology & Security (DTS) at Bowie State University. Dr. Latson is the academic coordinator for the department’s Computer Technology Program’s core courses, which include the prerequisite courses required by students in the Data Science/Database Administration track. She has participated in the NSF South Big Data Hub, Keeping Data Science Broad: Bridging the Data Divide Workshop and is a previous member of the Data Science and Analytics (DSA) Faculty Learning Community (FLC) at Bowie State University. Dr. Latson has over 25 years of extensive experience involving teaching, publications, and research on computer technology engineering and information technology.
Ed Pearson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, College of Engineering, Technology, & Physical Sciences, Alabama A&M University
Ed Pearson, Ph.D.
Dr. Ed Pearson III is an Assistant Professor at Alabama A&M University in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences. Dr. Pearson is also the director of the Cyber and Information Security Research and Outreach Lab. Dr. Pearson’s research combines both cyber/information security and human-computer interaction with emphasis on social engineering and phishing attacks. Dr. Pearson has led a team of student researchers responsible for developing web application tools to improve red team tactics. Dr. Pearson is also working to develop cyber security courses at the graduate level.
Felesia Stukes, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Computer Science, Johnson C. Smith University
Felesia Stukes, Ph.D.
Dr. Felesia Stukes is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Johnson C. Smith University located in Charlotte, NC. In 2019, she founded The Social Computing Lab where her research is situated at the intersection of communities and technology, using computer models and data science to explain social phenomena. Her research is also focused on Computer Science (CS) education to find more effective approaches to bring computer science to a wider and more diverse audience. More recently, Dr. Stukes directed an NSF-funded project which enhanced college faculty and K-12 educator knowledge, teaching, and research in Data Science through workshops and industry partnerships.
Alfred Watkins, Ph.D.
Academic Program Director & Senior Assistant Professor, Morehouse College
Alfred Watkins, Ph.D.
Dr. Al Watkins is Academic Program Director and a Senior Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Morehouse College. Dr. Watkins has conducted collaborative research in Chem-informatics and Bio-informatics, developed Bio-informatics and Advanced Database courses, and guided student research teams under the NSF funded ASPIRE grant. He serves on the Atlanta University Center Data Science Faculty Council which nurtures and supports the growth in Data Science activity at Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse School of Medicine.
Gain Experience Don't miss out on the Celebration!
Mark your calendars! The next HBCU Data Science Consortium event is set for April 11 - April 12, 2025. Get ready to celebrate and explore the exciting field of data science. Registration isn’t open yet, but stay tuned for updates—you won’t want to miss it!
Announcement Call for Presentation / Posters
The HBCU Data Science Consortium is interested in posters of data science that validate important research issues or showcase realistic applications that impact the HBCU community and community partners. While we are not currently accepting new applications, we encourage you to stay connected for future opportunities.
