Talitha Washington

Talitha Washington, Ph.D., is a Professor of Mathematics and Executive Director of the Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics (CADSA) at Howard University. She also holds the Sean McCleese Endowed Chair in Computer Science, Race, and Social Justice and serves as co-Chair of the President's AI Advisory Council. Her work bridges mathematical research, data science, and social equity, with leadership roles extending to the NSF National Data Science Alliance and the Association for Women in Mathematics.

Dr. Washington earned her B.S. in Mathematics from Spelman College, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Connecticut. She also received an honorary Doctor of Science from UConn. Her academic journey includes faculty positions at The College of New Rochelle, University of Evansville, and Clark Atlanta University, along with significant leadership roles at the National Science Foundation.

Her research spans applied mathematics, dynamical systems, nonstandard finite difference schemes, and the ethical development of artificial intelligence. She is deeply committed to equity in STEM, focusing on inclusive data science education and the responsible use of AI in addressing societal challenges. Her recent publications explore AI ethics, discrete heat equations, image encryption, and curriculum design.

Recent publications reflect a strong interdisciplinary focus, combining mathematical rigor with real-world applications in AI ethics, health equity, and engineering systems. Her work emphasizes dynamic consistency in numerical modeling and promotes fairness and diversity in technology development.

• 2019 BEYA STEM Innovator Award
• 2019 Outstanding Faculty Award from Howard University
• 2020 NSF Director’s Award for Superior Accomplishment
• Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS)
• Fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM)
• Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Fellow of the African Scientific Institute (ASI)
• Elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi

Dr. Washington has advised major national initiatives including the NSF’s first Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program, which awarded $85 million in grants, and served as Program Director at NSF in the Division of Undergraduate Education and the Convergence Accelerator. She was the inaugural Director of the Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative and leads the NSF National Data Science Alliance. Her grants and leadership focus on expanding access to data science for underrepresented communities and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

She leads the Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics at Howard University, a hub for research and education that leverages data to address societal inequities. She also contributes to national advisory bodies such as the U.S. Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee and the AI Advisory Council at Howard. Her work fosters collaboration across institutions, particularly among HBCUs, to build a diverse talent pipeline in AI and data science.