Alicia Nicki Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alicia Nicki Washington
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|---|---|
| Education | Johnson C. Smith University (BS) North Carolina State University (MS, PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer Science |
| Institutions | Duke University |
| Doctoral advisor | Harry Perros |
Alicia Nicki Washington is an American computer scientist, author, and professor. She teaches at Duke University. She wrote a book called Unapologetically .... In 2005, she became the first Black woman to earn a special advanced degree (a Doctor of Philosophy or PhD) in Computer Science from North Carolina State University.
Contents
Discovering Computer Science
Alicia Nicki Washington grew up in Durham, North Carolina. She learned how to code from her mother. Her mom was a programmer at a big company called IBM. This early start helped her love computers.
Her College Journey
Washington went to Johnson C. Smith University for her first college degree. She earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 2000. After that, she continued her studies at North Carolina State University (NC State). She earned her Master of Science degree in 2002. Then, in 2005, she completed her highest degree, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), in Computer Science.
Her Work in Computing
Early Teaching Roles (2006-2020)
In 2006, Dr. Washington started teaching at Howard University. She was an assistant professor of Computer Science. She was also the first Black woman to be a Computer Science professor there. While at Howard, she helped create a special program with Google. It was called "Google In Residence." This program helped students learn more about working at Google. Later, in 2015, she became a professor at Winthrop University.
Leading Programs at Duke University (2020-Present)
In June 2020, Dr. Washington joined the faculty at Duke University. She became a professor of Computer Science there. At Duke, she has started important new programs.
Creating Inclusive Computing Programs
Dr. Washington, along with Dr. Shaundra Daily and Cecilé Sadler, created a program. It's called the Cultural Competence in Computing (3C) Fellows Program. This program helps people understand different cultures in the world of computing. It makes sure everyone feels welcome.
In 2021, Dr. Washington and Dr. Daily received a large grant. It was $10 million from the National Science Foundation. They used this money to start something new at Duke. It's called the Alliance for Identity-Inclusive Computing Education (AIICE). This alliance works to make computing education open to everyone. It helps students from all backgrounds succeed in computer science.
See also
