Posted
Monday,September 21, 20261:04 pm
Converse University will hold its fifth annual Data Science and Cybersecurity Week from Sept, 25 through Oct. 2, 2026, with a focus on Data Insights in Public Health.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the United States and several other countries.
“What began as a targeted event for specialized majors has grown into a campus-wide platform highlighting how data drives every modern industry,” says Jessica Sorrells, dean of the School of Business and Data Science and associate professor of mathematics at Converse.
“Reaching our fifth year is a major milestone, and having industry partners step up as inaugural sponsors elevates our Data Science and Cybersecurity Week to a whole new level. Now, this week serves as a vital bridge between academics and real-world application, connecting our students directly to emerging trends and professional pathways.”
Datathon:Friday, Sept, 25, Noon to 3 p.m. Barnet Room, Montgomery Student Center at Converse; work continues virtually, In partnership with sponsor Live Healthy Spartanburg, students will dive into data related to chronic health conditions in the community.
The two focus questions will be: (1) Is there a correlation between Adverse Childhood Experiences and the impact on chronic health conditions in Spartanburg County? and (2) Are there ways to delay onset or provide prevention measures?
After the kickoff event, students will continue to work asynchronously throughout the following week. Converse students of all majors, as individuals or in teams, are invited to join in the Datathon.
Networking:Tuesday, Sept. 29, 4:30-6 p.m. Barnet Room, Montgomery Student Center at Converse. Local professionals and alumni from a range of fields related to business, accounting, mathematics, and data science will connect with our current students. Students will have the opportunity to practice networking skills, learn more about internship and career opportunities, and make valuable connections in industry.
Keynote:Wednesday, Sept. 30, 5:30-7 p.m. Barnet Room, Montgomery Student Center at Converse. Keynote speaker will be Grace Bagwell Adams ’07, associate professor of Housing Management and Policy in the Department of Financial Planning, Housing Policy, and Consumer Economics at the University of Georgia.
Adams partners with nonprofit organizations and state agencies to design and carry out causal impact evaluations — building the counterfactuals, comparison groups, and analytic strategies that let a program say not just what happened but what would have happened otherwise. Her expertise spans SNAP and food insecurity; young people with foster care experience and populations experiencing homelessness; early literacy; and behavioral health — domains where the people most affected are often the hardest to see in administrative data.
This year’s event is presented by Converse’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, in collaboration with Allison Vick, assistant professor of politics, and with support from the Division of Student Development and Success and Career Development. Events will include a range of activities designed to engage, educate, and empower Converse students, faculty, and staff.
