Registration Now Open for WiDS Conference Week at Seton Hall

At Seton Hall University, the exchange of ideas, the cultivation of voices and the advancement of scholarship are woven into the rhythm of campus life. This shared commitment continues during the week of March 23-27, 2026, as Women in Data Science (WiDS) Conference South Orange at Seton Hall University unfolds. Organized by Walsh Library’s Research Data Services within the University Libraries, the weeklong program is part of a global movement that celebrates the achievements, insight, and innovation of women in data science, while creating an inclusive and inspiring space for research, mentorship and meaningful connection.

The University and the University Libraries continue to strengthen an environment of support in which women’s scholarship is encouraged, women’s leadership comes into view and women’s voices contribute to shaping the future of data, AI and interdisciplinary research. Through WiDS South Orange, Seton Hall affirms a culture of support that reaches across students, faculty, administrators and the broader academic community. The University Libraries stand at the heart of this effort, offering research guidance, technical expertise and a warm-welcoming intellectual home for the ideas that will define the next generation of discovery.

For Samah Alshrief, Ph.D., research data specialist at Seton Hall University Libraries, this year’s program tells a powerful story about the direction of research across campus. “Across the faculty talks, the strongest common thread is the applied use of data and AI,” Alshrief said. “The topics span health science, education, communication and computer science. Together, these sessions show how data helps us understand complex questions with greater clarity and make informed decisions. There’s also a strong emphasis on AI, especially on understanding how it works and how it can be used responsibly in research and education.”

That vision comes to life in a rich and varied schedule of seven faculty-led sessions for next week. Registration for all events can be found here, with all sessions taking place virtually.

• Monday, March 23, 2026, 1 p.m. — “Building Regression Models,” presented by Nichole Sanchez, M.A. (Workshop)
• Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 11 a.m. — “Optimization after MLB Rule Changes: Steal and Pickoff Behavior,” presented by Danielle Zanzalari, Ph.D. (Short Talk)
• Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 11:30 a.m. — “Measuring the Impact and Value of Legal Design in Negotiation and Commercial Contracting,” presented by Katri Nousiainen, Ph.D. (Short Talk)
• Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 11 a.m. — “Toward Equity in Health Research with Minoritized Communities: Single-Case Methodology,” presented by Sindhu Chennupati, Ph.D. (Workshop)
• Thursday, March 26, 2026, 1 p.m. — “Semantic Explainability: Using Ontologies to Make AI Decisions Transparent,” presented by Sivan Albagli-Kim, Ph.D. (Short Talk)
• Thursday, March 26, 2026, 2 p.m. — “Building Private AI Over Institutional Data,” presented by Samah Alshrief, Ph.D. (Workshop)
• Friday, March 27, 2026, 11 a.m. — “Agentic AI in Higher Education: Designing Autonomous Agents for Education,” presented by Samah Alshrief, Ph.D. (Workshop)

The response from faculty who will be presenting has been encouraging. “All seven sessions across the week are led by six female faculty, spanning both workshops and short talks and representing a wide range of disciplines,” Alshrief noted. “What has been especially exciting is their enthusiasm for contributing to conversations around AI, research methods and applied data work. They bring strong engagement and a genuine appetite for this kind of programming.”

That enthusiasm resonates with the foundation and enduring spirit of Seton Hall, shaped by the life and work of Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, who expanded access to education for young women at a time when such opportunities were rare, opening pathways for intellectual growth and new possibilities. More than two centuries later, that thread can still be felt in the work taking place across campus today.

For students, the week brings learning into lived practice. “This program gives students direct exposure to both foundational and advanced concepts in action,” Alshrief said. “They can move from regression modeling and research design to topics like AI explainability, private AI, and autonomous systems. It helps connect classroom learning with the ways these methods are used in real research and real institutions.” In that movement, learning becomes more tangible, something that can be seen, tested and carried forward.

Alshrief also points to a broader shift. “There is a growing need for support in both data methods and AI,” she noted. “This program brings those areas together in ways that are accessible and practical. It creates spaces for faculty and students to share knowledge, learn from one another and grow alongside the fast-changing landscape of research.” What emerges is a pattern of exchange, where knowledge moves between people and gains depth through practice

WiDS South Orange at Seton Hall University welcomes women at every stage of their journey, along with students, scholars, colleagues and all who recognize the importance of women’s presence in data science and STEM. Gatherings like this can be where something larger quietly begins: ideas become dialogue, dialogue becomes community and community gathers its own quite momentum.

Categories: Science and Technology