STEM Seminar Fall 2026 - Class Activities

Mon Dec 7, 2026 - 2:00-4:30 Final Conference


Fri Nov 27 - Thanksgiving Break

Fri Nov 20 - Guest Speaker (The last class)
Dr. Mohammed Adjieteh, App State Mathematical Sciences
Title: Quantile Least Squares for Robust-Efficient Fitting and Validation of Loss Models
Abstract: Many insurance loss models, such as the lognormal and Pareto distributions, belong to the log-location-scale family. In this study, we introduce two methods for estimating the parameters of these distributions: ordinary quantile least squares (oQLS) and generalized quantile least squares (gQLS). Both methods are robust and easy to compute, even for very large datasets. While gQLS provides more precise estimates, oQLS is easier to apply to other loss distributions. We also examine how well these methods perform using simulated and real-world data.

Fri Nov 13 - Reselience and Well-being Workshop
Dr. Shernita Lee & Dr. Mark Ginn

Fri Nov 6 - Guest Speaker
Dr. Prem Chanda, App State, Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences

Fri Oct 30 - Leadership Workshop
Title: Values-Driven Organizations
The class defined what it meant to be a values-driven organization and considered the benefits of being values-driven. They consider the S-STEM class as an example. In small groups, they considered the inherent values of their cohort, then the instructor shared with them the S-STEM Code and asked them to research companies of which they might get jobs in the future - e.g., SAS, Red Hat. And find evidence of being values-driven companies. They shared their findings.
Dr. Jim Street, Ridgeline Leadership

Fri Oct 23 - Guest Speaker
Dr. Gregg Marland, App State, Research professor

Fri Oct 16 - Reselience and Well-being Workshop
Dr. Shernita Lee & Dr. Mark Ginn

Fri Oct 9 - Leadership Workshop
Title: Personal Core Values
Dr. Jim Street, Ridgeline Leadership
students went through a process where they came up with five core values, then they were challenged to see if they engage in behaviors that support or don't support their core values (congruence).

Fri Oct 2 - Data Science Workshop 3
Dr. Rahman Tashakkori
Title: Simple Data Analysis and Connetion to a Real World Environmental Project

Fri Sep 25 - Reselience and Well-being Workshop
Dr. Shernita Lee & Dr. Mark Ginn

Fri Sep 18 - Data Science Workshop 2
Dr. Rahman Tashakkori
Title: Data Preprocessing and Validation

Fri Sep 11 - Data Science Workshop 1
Dr. Rahman Tashakkori
Title: Process of Data Generation and Preparation

Fri Sep 4 - Guest Speaker
Dr. Delphine Deani and Brian Dean, Clemson University
Title: Engineering Solutions that Matter: Biomedical Engineering and Computing Research to Solve Real World Problems

Fri Aug 28 - Sharing Internships and Summer Research Experiences 1
Tabatha Williams and Luke Johnson (BeeMon)
Eileen Schaller (Physics)
Milani Crozier and Moises Ibarra (Chesmistry and Fermentation Sciences)
....

Fri Aug 21 - First Day
Introducing new scholars.
Building the teams
Plan for the semester.

Study Halls
Mondays and Tuesdays 5:00-8:00 Room 310
Wed and Fri Noon-3:00 Room 319
Graduate Student Leader, Jakyra Simmons, CS Grad, simmonsjl
Data Science Theme