Clark Atlanta University is currently welcoming students back to campus with exciting news. The historically Black university has secured a $10 million grant from the National Data Science Alliance and the National Science Foundation that will allow it to build a data science program. Within five years of obtaining the grant, the university plans to connect with other HBCUs and help more than 20,000 Black scholars obtain data security credentials. By ushering more Black students into the data science space, Clark Atlanta, the NSF and the NDSA hope to conduct data science research that promotes social equity.
“We are excited that many HBCUs will collaborate with us to develop new equity-based discoveries in data science and expand student pathways that will change the face of data science,” Clark Atlanta University Data Science Initiative Director Talitha Washington said.
Through the NDSA, the university will spread the wealth of the $10 million grant to several other HBCUs, including Howard University, Fisk University and Morehouse College. By doing so, the university and the NDSA hope to engage “over 1,000 HBCU faculty” members and
“create equity-based data science ecosystems where all students can learn.”
“This is a monumental accomplishment for the HBCU community as a whole, and we at Clark Atlanta University are deeply honored to perpetuate institutional mission through data science,” Clark Atlanta University President George T. French said.
“Clark Atlanta University has deep roots in conducting data science research that promotes equity, including the seminal works of scholar and former faculty member W.E.B. Du Bois on these hallowed grounds. This historic award exemplifies our commitment to ensuring competitive advantage for students to succeed and excel in our data-driven society.”
