Office of Equity and Inclusion

The School of Data Science and the UVA Equity Center will launch a pilot Community Data Fellows program in the 2023-2024 academic year. Up to four graduate students will receive training on effective, ethical community engagement principles and provide concrete support to community-based organizations. The program will include mentorship by current School of Data Science faculty and Equity Center staff; office hours and technical assistance for community partners; and feedback and evaluation from community partners to ensure value. Students will receive stipends for concrete deliverables to community-based organizations. Community-based organizations will receive honoraria for their participation in the workshop and evaluation. This Fellowship program will be closely connected with Code for Charlottesville.

In 2019, Associate Professor of Data Science Jonathan Kropko and UVA statistics student Elyse Lee created a Code for Charlottesville Chapter of Code for America. Since then, Charlottesville community members have been gathering (virtually since COVID-19) to collaborate, code, and work together on important issues in Charlottesville including with the city street light network, criminal record expungement, and pro bono IT consulting.  

The School of Data Science partners with the Virginia Institute of Government at UVA’s Weldon Cooper for Public Service to offer the Local Government Equity Clinic. The program is designed for local government employees interested in learning how to use data to promote equity, inclusion, and social justice within their own communities. 

“I see it as an opportunity to enrich conversation and the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion in Virginia,” said Siri Russell, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the School of Data Science. Russell is well versed with the challenges of building inclusive and equitable communities within local governments. Prior to joining UVA in the summer of 2021, Russell served as Director of Albemarle County’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.