2023 Data Science Leadership Summit

Sessions

Monday, May 8

Data Science Organizational Structures
(Institutes vs Departments and Schools)

9am

Chairs: Azer Bestavros (Boston University) and Hridesh Rajan (Iowa State University)
Session description
The unrelenting demand for educational and research capacities in data science required universities to adopt various strategies that enable them to create and offer new degree programs, recruit faculty members to support these programs, and provide the infrastructure necessary to sustain data-intensive research. Over the last decade, these strategies led to the emergence of a number of organizational models and structures for embedding data science into the fabric of the academy. In this session, we will characterize the resulting landscape of organizational structures, which range from research and training initiatives to fully-fledged schools and colleges; we will examine their tradeoffs, the influence of existing organizational structures on their development, and their ability to support the interdisciplinary nature of data science as a field. Additionally, we will explore the implications of these structures on managing growth and sustainability. To achieve this, we will hear from a panel of experienced leaders who will provide insights and perspectives on these topics. This will be followed by a breakout session, where attendees can dig deeper and exchange ideas about specific structures of interest. Through the panel discussion and breakout session, we hope to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the landscape of organizational structures for data science and the various factors that institutions need to consider when choosing one that best suits their needs.

Challenges Around Hiring Faculty

3pm

Chair: Jeff Hamrick (University of San Francisco)
Session description
coming soon

Tuesday, May 9

Developing an Effective Data Science Work Force

9am

Chairs: Bill Southerland (Howard University) and Amy Yeboah Quarkume (Howard University)
Session description
Data science is inherently a broad umbrella discipline that has captured the interest of both corporate and non-profit sectors. It should also be noted that the expectations of specific employers for their data science workforce are not only varied but constantly evolving. To meet these dynamic expectations, academic institutions have the challenge of producing trainees with the requisite complement of experiences and didactics that promote both flexibility and adaptability in the data science workspace. This session recognizes that effective data science training will maximally occur when there is collaboration between the academic community and those communities that employ a data science workforce. We will hear from representatives from the academic, corporate, and non-profit sectors in a panel format that encourages direct dialog between these communities, whether on the panel or among attendees. Each panelist will provide a summary overview of his/her data science workforce expectations followed by direct dialog/questions among panelists and with summit attendees. We expect that this type of direct dialog among panel experts and between the panel and attendees will serve as a catalyst to stimulate collaboration among sectors to produce a data science workforce that is perpetually effective in meeting workforce needs.

Ramps & Pathways to Data Science:
K12, Community Colleges, and Minority-serving Institutions

3pm

Chairs: Rachel Saidi (Montgomery College) and Debzani Deb (Winston-Salem State University)
Session description
As the global demand for data scientists and analysts is projected to continue to grow, increasing the number and diversity of students enrolled in data science and data analytics courses and programs will help to increase the communities who can approach complex, multifaceted problems and decision-making. In this session, we will cover the variety of pathways to data science, including upskilling from a different job, small colleges and MSIs, undecided majors, community colleges, and certificate programs. We will consider the roadblocks to data science, including awareness of the field and opportunities for careers, the stigma of alternative pathways, and the challenges of creating articulation agreements with four year institutions. We will hear from representatives from various organizations and institutions who are working to build these nontraditional pathways to broaden our audience’s understanding of the challenges and opportunities these pathways present and learn how data science can be promoted and supported. At the end of this session, we hope to develop a report that may be used by schools and other organizations who are considering creating data science programs.

Wednesday, May 10

Innovative Partnerships with Industry

9am

Chair: Liz Langdon Gray (Harvard University)
Session description
coming soon

The Future of ADSA

1pm

Chairs: Micaela Parker and Steve Van Tuyl (ADSA)
Session description
In this final session, we will briefly review ADSA activities from the past year, including the pilot Salary and Hiring Survey, solicit feedback on the Summit, and discuss future directions for ADSA. What should we tackle together next?