GSEHD alumna Dr. Farhana Faruqe (Ph.D. in Education, Human Technology Collaboration) started her role as an assistant professor of data science at the University of Virginia (UVA) in August of 2023. She has joined a growing movement that challenges gender norms in tech fields, beginning in her home country of Bangladesh. Her work was recently highlighted in the UVA Data Science website feature story, "Breaking the code: Empowering girls in Bangladesh to bridge the gender gap in tech." According to the article, "Her mission intertwines coding and artificial intelligence education with empowering young girls in a society where career paths in these fields are often discouraged."
“I want to empower girls and women in Bangladesh through AI technology education,” Faruqe said. “By training women in AI applications and coding, we hope to improve their socioeconomic conditions while addressing inequalities in the tech field.”
Faruqe has received a grant from the Jefferson Trust to pursue a project focused on setting students up for success in the growing field of trustworthy artificial intelligence. Her proposal was titled, “Preparing Students for Careers in Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence.” The grant will allow Faruqe to carry out her project and employ research, outreach, collaboration and pilot courses to provide UVA students with the skills and knowledge to forge successful careers as trustworthy AI continues to expand in the workplace.