Episode 76 – Building Community through Chaos
Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen
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Episode Description:
Ready for a journey that will inspire and empower? Join Dr. Kyla McMullen and Dr. Jeremy Waisome as they take you behind the scenes of their game-changing podcast and nonprofit, Modern Figures Inc., dedicated to advancing diversity in STEM. In this episode, they reveal the powerful story behind the podcast’s creation, emphasizing the crucial role of community, education, and safe spaces for underrepresented minorities in computing.
Hear how their transition to a nonprofit is creating a ripple effect, fostering mentorship, networking, and transformative opportunities for people of color in STEM. With fresh funding from the National Science Foundation and CRA UR2PhD, Modern Figures Inc. is set to roll out exciting new initiatives—including seminars, research projects, and high-impact events like the Microsoft roundtable in Atlanta—all designed to propel diversity and inclusion forward.
This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a call to action. Tune in for the premiere episode of Season 6!
Key Takeaways:
- Podcast Transformation to Nonprofit: Transitioning Modern Figures Podcast to a nonprofit organization has significantly enhanced their ability to support and engage with their audience through independent initiatives and strategic collaboration.
- Community and Academic Support: Grant funding from NSF and CRA UR2PhD is pivotal in bolstering research efforts and supporting gender-marginalized groups aiming for a PhD in STEM fields.
- Engagement with Broader Initiatives: Participation in conferences such as NSBE, Black Compute Her, and the Tapia Conference highlights their continued commitment to fostering engagement and support within the STEM community.
- Themes from Podcast Analysis: Themes such as educational exposure, childhood development, hindrances, mentorship, and intrinsic motivation reflect the core narratives shared in their podcast, offering valuable insight into the experiences of Black women in computing.
- Intriguing Technological Discussions: “What the Heck Tech” segment underscores provocative technological implementations, like the ChatGPT usage by the US Government, poised to stir vibrant discussions among listeners.
Bios:-::
Jeremy’s Bio–
Dr. Jeremy A. M. Waisome is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education. Her research focuses on effective mentoring strategies for underrepresented populations in Engineering. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida (UF), and now serves on the UF Ronald E. McNair Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Associate Provost’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee at UF. In 2018, she was awarded the Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year (Female) by the National Society of Black Engineers. In 2017, she was inducted into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. In addition, Dr. Waisome was inducted into UF Hall of Fame (2010) and is a recipient of the UF Outstanding Leadership Award (2010).
Kyla’s Bio–
Dr. Kyla McMullen is a tenured faculty member at the University of Florida’s Computer & Information Sciences & Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields, and is the leader of the SoundPAD Laboratory at the University of Florida, which focuses on the Perception, Application, and Development of 3D audio. Her current projects include: (1) psychoacoustic analysis of the quality of customized head-related transfer functions, (2) using 3D audio to sonify positional data for situational awareness, (3) discovering critical interface design techniques for developing virtual auditory environments, and (4) using 3D audio to increase immersion and realness in virtual and augmented reality.