Episode 89 – What we wish we knew before becoming Faculty

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

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LinkedIN – Jeremy

LinkedIN – Kyla

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Episode Description:

At the conclusion of Season 6 – we’re at a crossroads and it’s…a lot.
Jeremy and Kyla pull back the curtain on the raw, real struggles of life as faculty—juggling the impossible trifecta of research, teaching, and endless service. In another installation of the Black-ademic series, they don’t sugarcoat the burnout, boundary battles, or the constant hustle to keep academia from swallowing you whole.

This episode dives deep into their personal wins and failures, revealing the hidden costs of “success” in higher education. Along the way, they celebrate the game-changing voices they’ve featured this season and reflect on powerful moments from the Podcast Summit and upcoming conferences.

If you think academia is just about books and lectures, think again. This is about community, mentorship, and fighting to find real meaning in a system built to wear you down.

Bios:-::

Kyla’s Bio–

Dr. Kyla McMullen is a tenured faculty member at the University of Florida’s Computer & Information Sciences & Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields, and is the leader of the SoundPAD Laboratory at the University of Florida, which focuses on the Perception, Application, and Development of 3D audio. Her current projects include: (1) psychoacoustic analysis of the quality of customized head-related transfer functions, (2) using 3D audio to sonify positional data for situational awareness, (3) discovering critical interface design techniques for developing virtual auditory environments, and (4) using 3D audio to increase immersion and realness in virtual and augmented reality.

Jeremy’s Bio–

Dr. Jeremy A. M. Waisome is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education. Her research focuses on effective mentoring strategies for underrepresented populations in Engineering. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida (UF), and now serves on the UF Ronald E. McNair Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Associate Provost’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee at UF. In 2018, she was awarded the Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year (Female) by the National Society of Black Engineers. In 2017, she was inducted into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. In addition, Dr. Waisome was inducted into UF Hall of Fame (2010) and is a recipient of the UF Outstanding Leadership Award (2010).

Episode 87 – Jumping into the Deep End

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Quincy K. Brown

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quincykbrown.com

Past episode mentioned

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Episode Description:

Join Jeremy and Kyla as they engage with Dr. Quincy K. Brown, an influential figure in STEM policy and education. Quincy shares her inspiring journey from growing up in the Bronx to becoming an established expert in computer science and policy. Learn about her transitions from academia to policy-making, her work in the White House, and her venture into entrepreneurship with Futures and Innovation. Explore how community, education, and perseverance have shaped her path and the impact she continues to have on future generations in STEM.

Bio:-::

Quincy’s Bio–

Quincy drives high-impact programs at the intersection of education, workforce development, and technology, with a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Across two presidencies, she has shaped national policy, aligning federal agencies, nonprofit and industry partners to launch novel initiatives. She is a proven expert who leverages data-driven insights, strategic partnerships, and evidence-based research to shape national policy, scale innovative initiatives, and cultivate cross-sector collaborations.

Quincy is adept at guiding federal agencies, nonprofits, and industry stakeholders to address critical challenges in STEM education, workforce development, and inclusive technology adoption. She is passionate about advancing economic inclusion and sustainable growth through the responsible application of emerging technologies.

Episode 86 – She Did It First

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Sandra K. Johnson

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LinkedIN

www.sandrakjohnson.com

softpowerforthejourney.com

Black Women on Boards

**The first 5 listeners to tag us on a video sharing how this episode inspired you gets a free copy of one of Dr. Johnsons’ books!

Note: make sure your profile is public.

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Episode Description:

Dr. Sandra K. Johnson made history as the first Black woman to earn a PhD in computer engineering — and she’s just getting started. In this inspiring conversation, she joins hosts Kyla and Jeremy to share her journey from Louisiana to IBM, her leap into fintech and venture capital, and how she’s empowering the next generation of African diaspora entrepreneurs. Tune in for insights on resilience, innovation, and thriving in spaces where few have gone before.

Bio:-::

Sandra’s Bio–

Sandra K. Johnson is the CEO, SKJ Visioneering, LLC, a technology consulting company. She is an Independent Director at Regional Management Corporation and Pan-American Life Insurance Company. Dr. Johnson is the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in computer engineering. Her 26-year IBM career included serving as the CTO, IBM Central, East and West Africa, and CTO, IBM Global Small and Medium Businesses. She has a background in high performance computing and is a Master Inventor with over 45 pending and issued patents and over 80 technical publications.

She has authored five books, including her memoir, Soft Power for the Journey: The Life of a STEM Trailblazer. Dr. Johnson earned B.S. (summa cum laude) and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering, from Southern University and Stanford University, respectively, and a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Rice University. She is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and an IEEE Fellow.

Episode 85 – Retweets and Receipts

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. André Brock

Connect on social:

@docdre

AndreBrock.academia.edu

From the Blackhand Side: Twitter as a Cultural Conversation –

LIFE ON THE WIRE: Deconstructing race on the Internet –

Distributed Blackness: African American Cybercultures –

HULU documentary –

Engineering While Black: Exploring the Experiences of Black University of Florida Undergraduate Engineering Students Using Photovoice –

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Episode Description:

This week, Kyla and Jeremy are joined by the brilliant and hilarious Dr. André Brock, Associate Professor at Georgia Tech and certified expert in all things digital culture. They dive into how Black communities—especially Black women—have shaped the online world, from memes to movements. Dr. Brock breaks down the magic of “distributed Blackness,” why African American rhetoric matters in tech, and how the internet just wouldn’t be the same without a little (okay, a lot of) Black excellence.

It’s smart, it’s funny, and it might just change the way you see your timeline. Tune in for hot takes, real talk, and maybe a few tweets worth quoting.

Bio:-::

André’s Bio–

André Brock is an associate professor in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech. He writes on Western technoculture, Black cybercultures, and digital media. His scholarship examines racial representations in social media, videogames, weblogs, and other digital media in *New Media and Society, The Journal of Computer Mediated Communication, Media, Culture and Society, Information Communication and Society,* and *Games and Culture*. He has also published influential research on digital research methods. His award-winning book, **Distributed Blackness: African American Cybercultures** (New York University Press, 2020) theorizes Black everyday lives as Black joy, mediated by networked digital technologies.

Episode 84 – Drawn To Greatness

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Deborah A. Anderson

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@blkwmnanimator

https://www.blkwmnanimator.com

Medium Article

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Episode Description:

In this episode, the multitalented, multifaceted Deborah A. Anderson, dives into the nuances of balancing roles as an academic, animator, and influencer, emphasizing the importance of representation and access to animation careers for Black and brown communities. The discussion unfolds around her creation of BlkWmnAnimator, aiming to demystify the animation industry for aspiring creatives. Deborah’s insights on the impact of technology and AI on animation underline the critical intersection of art, culture, and innovation.

Bio:-::

Deborah’s Bio–

Deborah Anderson has extensive experience in the animation industry as a 3D modeler, assistant editor, and production coordinator. She started her career at one of the premier animation studios in Seoul, South Korea at Digital eMation. While at Digital eMation, she modeled props, vehicles and backgrounds on television shows such as, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, Batman: The Brave and The Bold, Scooby-Doo and The LeBrons. While living in New Orleans, LA she worked at TurboSquid in New Orleans, Louisiana and for Louisiana Economic Development – FastStart as an Animation Specialist. Since moving to Los Angeles, she has worked on the animated Good Times, Al Roker’s The Weather Hunters, and Amazon Prime’s Invincible. She also has a YouTube channel, BlkWmnAnimator, where she interviews animation professionals from disenfranchised communities. She recently reached a milestone of interviewing 100 Black animation professionals.

Episode 83 – Buck Bottom to Top of the Academic Ladder

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Cheryl D. Seals

Connect on social:

@cheryldseals

Google Scholar

Linked In – https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryldseals

Basic info. https://eng.auburn.edu/csse/people/ || More info. https://www.eng.auburn.edu/~sealscd/

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Episode Description:

In this inspiring episode of Modern Figures Podcast, hosts Kyla McMullen and Jeremy Waisome sit down with Dr. Cheryl D. Seals, the Charles E. Barkley Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University. From her early days in Louisiana to becoming a powerhouse in user experience, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, Dr. Seals shares the pivotal moments that shaped her path in tech.

💡 You’ll hear how Dr. Seals:

Turned curiosity into a career in cutting-edge computing research

Champions diversity and inclusion in STEM through intentional mentorship

Navigates the balance between academic excellence and personal fulfillment

Envisions the evolving landscape of STEM education for future generations

Whether you’re a student, educator, or tech professional, this episode offers powerful insights and actionable inspiration on building a meaningful career while lifting others along the way.

Bio:-::

Cheryl’s Bio–

Dr. Cheryl D. Seals, the Charles E. Barkley Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering at Auburn University, is a dynamic and accomplished academic, researcher, and educator with a career spanning more than 25 Years. Dr. Seals is an alumnus of Grambling State University, North Carolina A&T State University and received her PhD from Virginia Tech. With respect to her research, Dr. Seals has been involved in over a dozen studies of Advanced Learning Technologies supporting improved user experience. She is practiced in methods to evaluate and illicit participatory feedback from novice and academic audiences. Our research team has garnered over $17.3M in research funding and published over 100 journals and conferences papers in eLearning, Teacher Education (online learning), Computational Linguistics, Enhancing Virtual Reality (VR) through projects in VR and Augmented Reality (AR) (i.e., Pharmacy, Building Science (VR), Civil Engineering Structures (VR), Communications disorders (VR) and (Osteopathic Medicine (AR). Dr. Seals has extensive research mentoring & supervision of over a hundred graduate, undergraduate and REU students, graduated 20 Ph.D., 78Masters students, and greater than 100 undergraduate researchers including REUs (i.e., 44).

Dr. Seals works with many programs focused on improving computer science education and broadening participation in computing at all levels and to increase the computing pipeline by cultivating students’ interest in STEM disciplines and future technology careers.  Dr. Seals is as CoPI of the NSF IAAMCS Alliance that works on increasing the computing pipeline by creating opportunities for African American students to learn more about research and academic careers, through research experience and training.  IAAMCS facilitates mentoring, computing research, and skill building for undergraduates and graduate students. Dr. Seals was also a CoPI of the NSF STARS Alliance (starscomputingcorps.org) a regional academic partnership with over 50 institutions, industry, K-12 and the community to strengthen local broadening of computing by focusing on K-12 outreach, community service, student leadership and computing diversity research.

Episode 82 – Research as an Act of Resistance

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Connect on social:

@jeremywaisome

@Dr_Kyla

askus@modernfigurespodcast.com

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Episode Description:

In this special mid-season episode of *Modern Figures Podcast*, co-hosts **Dr. Kyla McMullen** and **Dr. Jeremy Waisome** share exciting updates on their **academic research**, **student mentorship**, and the ups and downs of securing **grant funding**. From guiding new students to navigating the complex world of academia, our hosts offer valuable insights for anyone in STEM.

We’re also joined by special guest **Dr. Amber Johnson**, who discusses our team’s latest work on several impactful projects—including a **Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant** awarded by the **National Science Foundation (NSF)**.

💡 Learn about:

* How to apply for **travel grants** in STEM

* Opportunities to become a **Modern Figures Influencer**

* Behind-the-scenes updates on our research and outreach efforts

✨ **Bonus Content:** Don’t miss a critical announcement at the end of the episode!

Whether you’re a student, educator, or early-career researcher, this episode is packed with inspiration and resources to help you thrive in STEM.

Bios:-::

Jeremy’s Bio–

Dr. Jeremy A. M. Waisome is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education. Her research focuses on effective mentoring strategies for underrepresented populations in Engineering. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida (UF), and now serves on the UF Ronald E. McNair Advisory Board. She is also a member of the Associate Provost’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee at UF. In 2018, she was awarded the Mike Shinn Distinguished Member of the Year (Female) by the National Society of Black Engineers. In 2017, she was inducted into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. In addition, Dr. Waisome was inducted into UF Hall of Fame (2010) and is a recipient of the UF Outstanding Leadership Award (2010).

Kyla’s Bio–

Dr. Kyla McMullen is a tenured faculty member at the University of Florida’s Computer & Information Sciences & Engineering Department. Dr. McMullen has a personal commitment to encouraging women and minorities to pursue careers in computing and other STEM fields, and is the leader of the SoundPAD Laboratory at the University of Florida, which focuses on the Perception, Application, and Development of 3D audio. Her current projects include: (1) psychoacoustic analysis of the quality of customized head-related transfer functions, (2) using 3D audio to sonify positional data for situational awareness, (3) discovering critical interface design techniques for developing virtual auditory environments, and (4) using 3D audio to increase immersion and realness in virtual and augmented reality.

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