FLDSSG hDim Podcast

Latest Episodes

Episode 9: Mentoring and Supporting Nonprofits on Data Science Projects

Guest: Katie Bakewell, Data Science Solutions Architect, NLP Logix, Jacksonville, FL

Leaders in data science and artificial intelligence modeling not only advance the field with their innovative approaches, but many also serve as mentors to a growing number of emerging data science interns. In this episode, we will discuss the role of mentoring in the data science field. Specifically, we will explore how mentoring around non-profit data science projects support the growth and development of emerging data scientists as well as the advancement of data science within non-profit organizations. Katie Bakewell has served as a mentor for data science interns for over 5 years. We will discuss how the field of data science for social good is changing and how those interested in data science careers can receive mentoring and advice from those working in the industry.

July 18, 2024 00:43:00 Watch Episode 9 on YouTube

Episode 8: DSSG Internships Help Prepare for Data Science Leadership

Guests: Abhishek Singh, Data Engineer at Kohl’s, Fort Lauderdale, FL; and YuanYuan Yang, Ph.D. Student at Washington University in St. Louis, MO

Students who receive training in real-world projects gain understanding and skills that help prepare them for success after graduation. Community-based data science projects provide complexity and meaning, which help data scientists appreciate complex patterns in data and communicate ideas to broad audiences. In this episode of hDim, we will follow up with students who have completed Data Science for Social Good internships. Abhishek Singh and YuanYuan Yang will help us understand the hidden dimensions of data science for social good internships and how they provided unique perspectives on leadership in their current positions and in the field.

July 12, 2024 00:45:14 Watch Episode 8 on YouTube

Episode 7: PGA TOUR Innovative Uses of Data Science and AI Solutions

Guests: Mike Vitti, Senior Vice President, Data & Decision Sciences, and Jacqueline Shelly, Statistician, PGA TOUR, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Sports have always been associated with data and statistics, from batting averages to detailed historical win-loss records. Contemporary data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods have birthed new approaches to sports analytics. Data about athletes both before and after recruitment have expanded and data about how to enhance the experience for fans continues to grow in number and sophistication. In this episode of Dim, we will discuss with Mike Vitti and Jacqueline Shelly of the PGA TOUR about the demand for and the elegant use of data analytics in sports. We will discover the hidden dimensions of simplicity among complexity in working with athlete and marketing data.

June 28, 2024 00:49:44 Watch Episode 7 on YouTube

Episode 6: Partnering around Data on Arts Education in K-12 Schools

Guest: Lucy Chen, Vice President of Advocacy & Community Engagement, Cathedral Arts Project, Jacksonville, FL

In this episode, we will see how hidden dimensions in school arts data can reveal important patterns to improve arts programs over time. Lucy Chen from the Cathedral Arts Project will update us on the efforts to assess, qualify, and improve arts programming in the Northeast Florida region. This initiative is part of a broader Collective Impact program that seeks to see lasting positive change in our communities through civic action and collaboration.

June 20, 2024 00:29:26 Watch Episode 6 on YouTube

Episode 5: Interdisciplinary Data Science Programs Impacts on Student Career Path

Guest: Sri Ram Sripada, Master of Science in Business Analytics and Information Systems graduate, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

In this episode, we discuss the education and career paths of data science for social good student interns. We also explore their hopes for future work in the field. The discussion includes integrating social good into career, working as an interdisciplinary team, and memorable moments from applied data science career.

June 14, 2024 00:31:39 Watch Episode 5 on YouTube

Episode 4: NLP Logix, Leading Change in AI and Data Science Fields

Guests: Ted Willich, Co-Founder and CEO, and Matt Berseth, Co-Founder and CIO, NLP Logix, Jacksonville, FL

In this episode, we will discuss with leaders of one of the top AI and data science companies in the U.S., NLP Logix. Ted Willich and Matt Berseth, Co-founders and principals of NLP Logix have been involved on the advancing edge of this field since the company’s founding in 2011. They have maintained a commitment to helping community organizations in their data-driven transformations. We discuss the collaborative nature of the data science field and how we can help organizations grow and thrive as they access the AI revolution.

May 31, 2024 00:39:35 Watch Episode 4 on YouTube

Episode 3: Interdisciplinary DSSG as a Career Path in Data Science

Guests: Patrick Harrell, Psychology Graduate and Aishwarya Pawar, Data Science Gradaute, University of North Florida

In this episode, we discuss the education and career paths of emerging data science for social good student interns. We also explore their hopes for future work in the field. We discuss when did they start integrating social good into career, what perspectives had to shift working as an interdisciplinary team, and what were some memorable moments from working on data science projects.

March 12, 2024 00:37:19 Watch Episode 3 on YouTube

Episode 2: Community-Engaged Data Science and Success after Graduation

Guest: Brian Ferdman, Data Scientist & Senior Financial Analyst, CSX, Jacksonville, FL

Community-engaged projects provide complexity and meaningful problems, which help data scientists appreciate complex patterns in data and communicate ideas to broad audiences. In this episode of hDim podcast, we follow up with one of the FL-DSSG 2022 alumni, Brian Ferdman. Brian help us understand the hidden dimensions of data science for social good internships and how they provided unique perspectives in data science positions.

March 1, 2024 00:24:55 Watch Episode 2 on YouTube

Episode 1: hDim Podcast Introduction

Guests: Drs. Dan Richard and Karthikeyan Umapathy

In this episode, the hosts discuss what is the hDim podcast and why they started the initiative. FL-DSSG Co-Directors discuss how they got involved in data science work and how they integrated social good into their teaching and research. They discuss why they started the FL-DSSG program and some of their most memorable moments from past years in the program.

February 16, 2024 00:33:11 Watch Episode 1 on YouTube

Browse All hDim Podcast Episodes

Podcast Hosts

Dr. Dan Richard

Professor, Department of Psychology University of North Florida Co-Director of Florida Data Science for Social Good (FL-DSSG)

Dr. Karthikeyan Umapathy

Professor, School of Computing University of North Florida Co-Director of Florida Data Science for Social Good (FL-DSSG)

Podcast Producer

Andy Rush

Course Media Developer Center for Instruction and Research Technology University of North Florida

Curious about appearing as a guest on the hDim podcast?

Want to participate in the podcast as a guest? Have a question you can't wait to hear us talk about or want to share anything with our listeners?

Contact Dr. Richard at

hDim: Hidden Dimensions Podcast