People

Uma is a Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Mathematics and Physics at NC Central University. Her research interests include data science, scheduling and resource allocation with applications to cloud computing, robotics, wireless sensor networks, multimedia networking, and large logistics problems. She has published several papers in leading conferences and journals in her areas of expertise. On the education front, she is interested in increasing the enrollment and retention of minority students, particularly in the Mathematical Sciences including Computer Science, and towards this end has implemented new courses and concentrations, some of which have been funded by NSF. She received her BSc degree in Mathematics from the University of Madras, Chennai, India, her ME degree in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, and her PhD degree in Computer Science from NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York.

Alade is a Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Mathematics and Physics at NC Central University. His research interests include robotics, computer image synthesis/vision, networking, and algorithm design. He is part of the development and implementation team of DREAM STEM, an NSF grant-funded program that aims to increase enrollment, retention, persistence, and graduation of minorities pursuing STEM physical and mathematical sciences undergraduate degree programs at NC Central University. DREAM STEM focuses on students’ science identity development and entrepreneurial thinking mindset. He provides to graduate and undergraduate students research training in areas that include image processing, robotics, computer graphics and computer vision focusing on the applications of deep learning to iris and face recognition, wireless networks, mobile computing, and machine learning. He received the BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering from Duke University, Durham, the EE degree in electrical engineering from Columbia University, New York, and the PhD degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Florida, Gainesville.

Adrienne brings expertise related to evaluation, implementation, and measurement. She applies her knowledge of evaluation theory and methods and experience in instrument development to study and measure the implementation and impact of innovations on participants’ knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors. Her measurement experience includes constructing and validating instruments for the National Survey of Science and Mathematics Education funded by the National Science Foundation. She received her Ph.D. in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a concentration in Educational Psychology, Measurement, and Evaluation. Since then, she has been involved in numerous research and evaluation projects that vary in size and scope having served as the Director of Research and Evaluation at the Education Policy Initiative at Carolina and as a research associate for Horizon Research.

Rebecca has expertise with quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. In recent years she has spent significant time engaged in work that intersects program evaluation with implementation science, focusing on applying aspects of both fields to support the work of state assistance teams working to turnaround low performing rural schools. She also utilizes this skill set as as an extension services consultant working with the National Center for Women in Information Technology (NCWIT) consulting with institutions to help them augment and strengthen their recruitment and retention strategies. Additionally, she brings expertise from her prior roles as Project Manager at North Carolina State University managing a mixed methods longitudinal evaluation of their STEM –focused Elementary Education program, .Program Director at the Carolina Institute for Public Policy, and Director for Evaluation for NC OPT-ED, a multi-component program funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented minorities obtaining graduate degrees in STEM fields. She completed a doctoral program in Educational Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH with a concentration in educational program evaluation. Since completing graduate studies, she has worked for the past 15 years in the areas of educational research and evaluation, focusing on evaluation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and in increasing participation of historically underrepresented individuals in STEM fields.​