Speaker
Description
Abstract
Every R script, package, and analysis rests on a foundation of community labor that often goes unseen. While R is widely celebrated for its technical power, its longevity depends just as much on the people who teach, maintain, translate, mentor, and organize around it.
In this keynote, I will draw on my leadership at The Carpentries to share stories and insights about building and sustaining global open-source communities. I will discuss how contribution shows up in many forms, how community care and governance shape technical ecosystems, and why investing in people is essential to the future of R.
This talk is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reimagine our relationship to the tools we use.
Whether you are an R package maintainer, educator, researcher, or new user, you will leave with a deeper understanding of how your participation matters and how giving back can strengthen both the R community and your own professional journey.
Bio
Dr. Kari L. Jordan, is a leading figure in data science education, serving as the Executive Director for The Carpentries, a globally recognized nonprofit organization. Upon completing Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University, she pursued a Ph.D. in Engineering Education at The Ohio State University,
specializing in interventions to enhance belonging for people of color in STEM. Dr. Jordan's visionary leadership has propelled The Carpentries' mission worldwide, fostering exponential growth and impact across academia, industry, and government sectors. A sought-after speaker and advocate for diversity and inclusion, she champions accessible data literacy and bridges the digital skills gap through strategic initiatives and international collaboration.
Dr. Jordan's dedication to empowering individuals and fostering inclusive learning environments has earned her widespread recognition and respect, shaping the future of data literacy for societal betterment.