ITTA BENA, Miss. — Dr. Abigail Newsome, associate vice president for academic affairs at Mississippi Valley State University, has been selected to join the inaugural cohort of the Strategic Data Project (SDP) Fellowship, representing MVSU in a prestigious national initiative aimed at strengthening data practices at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).
The SDP Fellowship is an initiative of the Harvard University Center for Education Policy Research. It is supported by the Gates Foundation in collaboration with the United Negro College Fund, Complete College America, and Growing Inland Achievement. The fellowship enhances institutional capacity, strengthens data analytic skills, and promotes evidence-based solutions to improve student outcomes.
Newsome is one of 18 fellows selected nationwide for the new MSI Data Community of Practice and Fellowship. The 18-month program will combine in-person and virtual training, collaborative projects, and the development of public-facing resources to support student success in higher education.
“I am honored to represent Mississippi Valley State University in this groundbreaking fellowship,” Newsome said. “This opportunity will help us better leverage data to improve student outcomes and institutional effectiveness. It’s about using evidence to create equity and excellence in education.”
Fellows will attend an in-person orientation this July in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where they will begin setting goals related to data governance, student success analytics, data communication, and student voice. The cohort will conclude in September 2026.
“We couldn’t be more excited to serve and support MSI data leaders and their institutions as they harness evidence to improve student outcomes,” said Miriam Greenberg, senior director of the Strategic Data Project. “These fellows are poised to bring about powerful change not only within their campuses, but across the entire sector.”
To learn more about the Strategic Data Project and the MSI Data Community of Practice and Fellowship, visit https://sdp.cepr.harvard.edu/sdp-minority-serving-institution-msi-data-community-practice-and-fellowship.
The inaugural cohort includes:
- Abigail Newsome, Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena, MS)
- Alejandra Villalobos Melendez, The University of New Mexico-Taos (Ranchos de Taos, NM)
- Charla Orozco, The University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM)
- Christopher Crew, San Bernardino Community College District (San Bernardino, CA)
- Daniel Sisco, Northampton Community College (Bethlehem, PA)
- Gloria Davis, Texas Southern University (Houston, TX)
- Mariana Rincon Osorio, Florida Memorial University (Miami Gardens, FL)
- Marlin Hicks, Johnson C. Smith University, Incorporated (Charlotte, NC)
- Rahat Khan, Claflin University (Orangeburg, SC)
- Raquel Borges-Hernandez, University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus (Mayaguez, PR)
- Samantha Petitt, Walla Walla Community College (Walla Walla, WA)
- Sandra Ramawy, Lane College (Jackson, TN)
- Sharmyne Evans, Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA)
- Stephanie Mayberry, Kentucky State University (Frankfort, KY)
- Tanner Carollo, California State University, San Bernardino (San Bernardino, CA)
- Veronica Powell Shuford, Virginia State University (Petersburg, VA)
- Yan Ma, University of California, Riverside (Riverside, CA)
- Yasser Ismail, Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA)
SDP Overview: Based at the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, the Strategic Data Project is transforming the use of data in education to improve student achievement. It provides premier professional development programs, research services, and valuable resources for schools, districts, and states. Partnering with SDP helps system leaders build internal capacity, uncover insight, and inform policy and strategic management decision-making.
About the Strategic Data Project Fellowship: The SDP Fellowship is an intensive capacity-building program that places new data strategists and trains existing talented data strategists in education agencies to have an immediate impact on policy decisions that affect student outcomes. It includes extensive training in measurement and analysis, leadership and change management, and education policy, and leverages SDP’s extensive network of experts, faculty, and more than 600 fellows trained across almost 300 partner organizations.