28-Year-Old Black Woman Earns Ph.D. in Computer Science, Shatters Records at New York University
A 28-year-old black lady named Rediet Abebe has made history as the first-ever black woman to bag a doctorate degree at Cornell University, New York.
okpe chinenye 
Rediet Abebe, a 28-year-old woman of African descent, has etched her name in history by becoming the first black woman to achieve a doctoral degree at Cornell University in New York.
Hailing from Addis Ababa, Rediet Abebe is a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows and has achieved a groundbreaking milestone as the first Black woman to attain a Ph.D. in computer science from Cornell University.
Her research, as reported by Atlanta Black Star, is centered on the development of algorithms and artificial intelligence solutions that promote equity and social welfare.
In her bio, Rediet mentions her commitment to designing and analyzing algorithmic, discrete optimization, network-based, and computational techniques aimed at enhancing access to opportunities for historically marginalized communities.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Rediet is actively engaged in significant initiatives. She serves as a member of the NIH Advisory Committee to the Director working group on artificial intelligence and is also the co-founder of Black in AI, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing diversity in the field of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, she co-founded Mechanism Design for Social Good (MD4SG), an interdisciplinary research initiative and workshop series involving participants from over 100 institutions across 20 countries.
Rediet Abebe presented her final thesis, titled "Designing Algorithms for Social Good," which delves into solutions to enhance societal well-being. Her research addresses critical issues such as addressing income shocks experienced by economically disadvantaged families due to layoffs or gaps in income. Rediet draws inspiration from her homeland, Ethiopia, where she observed pervasive income inequality, with grand mansions juxtaposed with modest dwellings on the same streets.
Reflecting on her work, Rediet expressed, "It's something that's really shaped my identity as a person, as a researcher. I realized that actually if you do computer science or applied mathematics and ultimately other fields, you can work on really interesting challenging mathematical questions. You can do a lot of data-driven work, you can play with data. But, you can also think about problems that affect society immediately." She aspires to continue diversifying the technology landscape through her work and organizational endeavors.
Rediet's educational journey includes a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard College, followed by a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Cambridge. She also holds an additional master's degree in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University. Her remarkable achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring scholars and underscore the importance of diversity and inclusion in academic and professional fields.
