Kennesaw State Program Positions Students To Generate Positive Impact Through Research

Press release from Kennesaw State University:

Sep 17, 2021

Kennesaw State program positions students to generate positive impact through research

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Sep 17, 2021) — What some may see as the standard class project, Susan Hardy sees an opportunity to
positively impact society.

A senior lecturer in Kennesaw State University’s School of Data Science and Analytics, she is among the faculty responsible for mentoring students through research projects
in the School’s Minor in Applied Statistics and Analytics. Having guided more than 50 projects and accompanying students to high-caliber conferences,
she asks every student to follow a simple directive: Find something you’re passionate
about.

In return, students in the minor program have responded by tackling issues ranging
from prison reform to infant mortality to food deserts, all through a statistical
lens. Their projects demonstrate how data permeates practically all aspects of society
and can often be the answer to its biggest challenges, Hardy said.

“Beyond the findings, our students are also learning how to package themselves for
the job market,” she added. “These projects demonstrate their ability to problem solve
with a data-driven approach, and to convey their findings so data analysts and the
general public can understand. The results of their studies have been shared with
legislators in Washington, the Georgia State Capitol and internationally.”

Kennesaw State alumna Kara Dees is among those who have seen her research generate
a societal impact. While pursuing the applied statistics and analytics minor to complete
her degree in electrical engineering in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, she was inspired to base her research around the study of internet accessibility
at 22 public libraries around the Georgia. Her research found that 19 of the 22 libraries
selected for the study failed to meet Federal Communications Commission minimum standards,
potentially harming citizens who didn’t otherwise have access to internet.

Her findings would eventually catch the attention of Georgia State Sen. Steve Gooch,
who previously sponsored legislation to improve rural broadband access. Prior to Dees’
study, regulators weren’t fully aware of the extent of the issue.

"The detail that goes into these projects is astounding, because the faculty pushed
us to make sure that we approached our topics intelligently and thoroughly in order
to make informed decisions,” said Dees, now a research engineer at the Georgia Tech
Research Institute. “I grew a lot as a researcher throughout my undergraduate studies
and internships, and gained skills that I continue to use professionally.”

Like Dees, several other students have used their projects to explore their passions,
said Michael Frankel, who coordinates the applied statistics and minor program. Often,
students present their findings at the annual Analytics Day conference hosted by the School of Data Science and Analytics. In April, Jacob Rybak
presented his research on prison reform and recidivism, winning first place in the
undergraduate category. He has gone on to present at seven different research conferences,
including ones hosted by Harvard University, Virginia Tech and Stanford University,
the latter of which invited him as a plenary speaker.

Another student, Lawren Cumberbatch, finished second for her study on food deserts
across Georgia and their impact on segments of the population.

“When you pick topics you are interested in, you are going to understand the applicability
of the skills we are teaching all the better,” Frankel said. “Our students are approaching
fields and analyzing it in ways that wouldn’t traditionally happen without the use
of statistics, and the results lead to a more promising future for our communities.”

– Travis Highfield

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

This press release was produced by Kennesaw State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.