Peter Salovey President | Yale University
Peter Salovey President | Yale University
A new speaker series at Yale University will feature leading professionals in statistics and data science discussing career development for women. The series, organized by the Department of Statistics and Data Science (S&DS) and the Yale Institute for Foundations of Data Science (FDS), aims to address career pathways, work-life balance, and role models in the field.
The FDS Women’s Career Development Colloquium Series begins on September 27 with Elena Khusainova, a senior data scientist at AT&T. Other speakers include Michelle Lacey from Tulane University, Cynthia G. Rush from Columbia University, and Susan Wang from Google.
Ruixiao Wang, a Ph.D. student in S&DS at Yale, initiated the series after realizing the need for female perspectives in data science careers. "I was inspired by a conversation I had with a male professor... He asked if I had talked to any female faculty members or researchers about their experiences? And I realized I hadn’t," said Wang.
Wang hopes the discussions will help female graduate students connect with mentors and gain inspiration and confidence for their future careers. "I see this as a great chance for female graduate students to get together and talk with mentors about the challenges we face," she added.
The talks are scheduled for Fridays at noon, some in-person at Kline Tower and others via Zoom. The series will continue into the spring due to positive responses from alumni willing to participate.
Wang emphasized her interest in learning how women manage job responsibilities alongside family life and health. "These are not small things, and I don’t hear enough people in my field talking about them," she noted.
Wang collaborated with Colleen Chan, another Ph.D. student who graduated earlier this year, to identify potential speakers. The response was enthusiastic, ensuring that the series will have continuity.
For more information on dates and registration details:
- Sept. 27: Elena Khusainova ’20 Ph.D., senior data scientist at AT&T
- Oct. 4: Michelle Lacey ’03 Ph.D., professor of mathematics at Tulane University
- Oct. 25: Cynthia G. Rush ’16 Ph.D., associate professor at Columbia University
- Nov. 1: Susan Wang ’14 Ph.D., staff data scientist at Google
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