2024 Staff Excellence Award Winner: Alessandro Zampi

Why did you choose Northeastern?

I started working at Northeastern six months after getting my bachelor’s degree with no real idea of what industry I wanted to go into.

I liked the Northeastern brand (even though I knew very little about the university) and I liked the subjects it is known for. I also liked what the mascot represents (intelligent, energetic, hardworking). I was very much “trying out” higher education, and I’m so glad I did!

What kinds of challenges have you encountered in your journey here and how have you learned from them?

One challenge is trying to synthesize the avalanche of information you’re given in a short space of time. My advice is to block off time to just think (preferably, while walking). And read Build a Second Brain by Thiago Forte.

With challenges, come opportunities. Navigating an organization this complex gave me a headache by the end of every day for my first month or two. But the opportunity that came from that was the ability to work with likeminded colleagues who are looking to challenge assumptions and create positive impact.

Alessandro Zampi

Have you learned anything about yourself during your career at Northeastern?

I’ve learned that I can be more patient than I realized. In my former industry, hospitality, everything was always full speed, and I loved the adrenaline. Higher education is much more complex, and moves must be planned further ahead. I’ve grown to appreciate the longer game.

What advice do you have for someone considering higher education, either as a student or as a career?

Invest time learning whatever you can about the university. It is an unbelievably enormous, interdependent ecosystem, and the better you understand it beyond your role, department, and college, the better you’ll be at your job.

At the same time, Northeastern is no different from any other organization in that it is made up of people, so prioritize cultivating genuine relationships.

What inspires you every day?

Confronting intuition-based decision-making and “best practices” by bringing scholarship to the business environment.

Alessandro Zampi

Where do you see yourself in the near future?

Still at Northeastern! I love CPS. What and who we are is less obvious than the other colleges, but I think that is our superpower. We aren’t tied down to an identity, and this gives us the freedom to innovate.

We are all more than our jobs. What interests or passions do you have outside of work?

Other than food, travel, reading, watching movies/tv, hanging out with my partner, and seeing friends and family, I love any kind of board or word or card games. I’m unbelievably lucky that my partner works in travel and exploring the world is a core value of his. We went gorilla trekking in Rwanda in 2022, Japan in 2023, and now we’re going to Kenya and Tanzania in August of this year for some safari.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I’m just grateful for the folks I get to work with everyday.

Minfang Wu 

Getting a degree while life is happening isn’t always easy. How have you faced and overcome some of these challenges?

To begin, there are some linguistic barriers that I face while interacting with local students because I am an international student. I have some unusual study habits, and I read at a snail’s pace. Keeping in touch with my spoken English, reading more literature to discover the norms, and not being frightened of making mistakes were all things I worked very hard to convince myself.

In addition, I made a concerted effort to learn alongside my pals, and we continued to support and encourage one another.

 What were some of the reasons you chose to join the Northeastern community? Since joining, what have been some of the opportunities and challenges you have experienced?

The Northeast offers numerous chances, both in terms of career and geographical advantages. As a student, I appreciate this type of learning environment. It is highly intriguing and hard to share the topic in front of academics or to join the ambassador platform to help students.

What has your journey at Northeastern University revelated to you about yourself?

I did learn a lot during my studies, and I learned a lot in a new field that shocked me. In comparison to my former existence, I got a lot of varied sighs in this one.​

What advice do you have for others considering higher education — either at Northeastern or elsewhere?

• Acquiring knowledge happens naturally.
• Asking for assistance is often just the beginning.
• You will also need to put in significant independent effort.

Why are you interested in the degree you’re pursuing? What motivates you?

Analytics is my area of study at the graduate level.

Let me start by saying that analysis is a major that many people choose. Second, keeping dataization current is something I truly want to do. I felt I needed a break after working for a few years.

Analytics is a tool that I find to be really helpful.

What are you hoping to do after you graduate? Where do you imagine yourself 5 years after school?

My dream job would be to work for a tech giant like Google or Microsoft, preferably in their data analysis or business division. Increasing my exposure to state-of-the-art technologies is my goal.

We know you are more than the person who shows up at Northeastern — what are some of your hobbies and other passions? Where do you find your joy?

I have a diverse set of interests and enjoy trying new things. I enjoy experiencing the beauty of nature as well as the history and culture of museums. I enjoy going on hikes and traveling with my buddies. That’s when I’m at my happiest.

Is there anything else you wanted to say that we didn’t cover?

In an ideal world, I would have friends with whom I could share interests, experiences, and academic pursuits, and I am open to meeting new people.

Faces of CPS

Faces of CPS: Get to know the many diverse people who make up our CPS community 

Faces of CPS: Alessandro Zampi

I liked the Northeastern brand (even though I knew very little about the university) and I liked the subjects it is known for. I also liked what the mascot represents (intelligent, energetic, hardworking).

Hailing from diverse locales like London, New York, and Boston, Alessandro Zampi won 2024 Staff Excellence Award. A current graduate student in Analytics and Staff Operations Analyst, his dedication enriches both academia and operations.

Connections: Linkedin and Instagram

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Faces of CPS: Suqi (Eileen) Wu

Hailing from China, Suqi (Eileen) Wu embodies innovation and creativity. As an alumna of the 2023 MS Digital Media program, she excels as a Product and UX Designer, shaping impactful user experiences globally.

The co-op program and the experiential learning opportunities, I made lots of friends and became a more professional designer because of this experience.

Connections: Linkedin and Instagram

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Faces of CPS: Minfang Wu

Hailing from China, Minfang Wu unfolds her Northeastern University journey, overcoming barriers, pursuing analytics, and aspiring towards tech excellence.

The Northeast offers numerous chances, both in terms of career and geographical advantages. As a student, I appreciate this type of learning environment.

Connections: Linkedin and Instagram

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Faces of CPS: Anthony Alsayed

I was also attracted by the university values and the organizational culture and felt inspired by its leaders and the mission that was based on practical training and research.

Hailing from Toronto, Anthony Alsayed is the recipient of the 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award, bringing his expertise as a part-time lecturer, enriching students’ learning experiences.

Connections: Linkedin and Facebook

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Faces of CPS: Sanover Tasneem

As a first-generation student, I needed financial support for my education and getting an on-campus position was tough. Applying and securing a co-op was also a big hurdle. Overall, CPS has given me a lot of opportunities to showcase my abilities and use the skills from my past work experience in India. I have just been so grateful for all the good things supporting my life and education here.

Hailing from Jaunpur, India, Sanover Tasneem is a first-generation college student who now calls Boston home, pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Analytics, she is graduating in June 2024.

Connections: Linkedin and Instagram

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Faces of CPS: Vivek Vaghasiya

Hailing from Gujarat, India, Vivek Vaghasiya is pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Informatics. He is graduating in May 2024.

My journey at Northeastern University has been a revelation, showcasing my resilience and adaptability. After graduation, I aspire to secure a role in data analytics or cloud computing, leveraging the skills acquired during my master’s in professional studies in Informatics. In five years, I envision myself in a leadership position, driving innovative solutions and contributing to the advancement of technology in a dynamic industry.

Connections: Linkedin

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Faces of CPS: Jennifer Chavez

Hailing from Boston, Jennifer Chavez Umana is a first-generation college student balancing full-time work, her coursework at school, and personal growth.

My journey at Northeastern has shown me that I am capable of so much more. I can handle things that I never thought I was able to. Even then sometimes I feel like I still won’t be able to make it through but somehow I always push through.

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Faces of CPS: Christian Cartagena

Being a Northeastern student has been an inspiring journey. Each completed class shows I am not only a step closer to my goal of obtaining a bachelor’s degree but also an achievement added to my collection.

Hailing from Boston, Christian Cartagena is a first-generation college student pursuing finance, navigating challenges, and finding joy in Boston.

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Faces of CPS: Brittni Allen

I chose to join the NU family because I was very excited and intrigued by programs designed to help more students access educational opportunity. I’ve always had a passion for helping other to reach their goals and this position aligned perfectly.

Hailing from Miami, Brittni Allen is a first-gen college student thrives at Northeastern, driven by her passion for equal opportunities.

Connections: Linkedin

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Faces of CPS: Srisha Rajasekar

Hailing from Singapore, Srisha Rajasekar shares her dynamic Northeastern University odyssey, merging academic excellence, regulatory fervor, and personal fulfillment.

The evolving regulatory environment presents an exciting challenge, my motivation lies in the impactful role regulatory affairs plays in shaping the future and ensuring the well-being of individuals.

Connections: Linkedin

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Vivek Vaghasiya

Getting a degree while life is happening isn’t always easy. How have you faced and overcome some of these challenges?

Balancing work, family, and studies presented challenges. To overcome, I prioritized tasks, established a routine, and sought support from family and peers. Time management and a strong support system were crucial in navigating these challenges.

What do you do when you aren’t working, studying, or caring for your family?

Beyond my academic pursuits, I find joy in solving Rubik’s cubes, engaging in outdoor activities, and embracing a mindset of continuous learning. Exploring new challenges and gaining insights from various experiences brings fulfillment to my life.

Have you learned anything about yourself along the way?

My journey at Northeastern University has been a revelation, showcasing my resilience and adaptability.

Facing academic challenges while managing other aspects of life, I discovered my ability to prioritize, stay focused, and overcome obstacles. This experience has revealed my capacity for continuous learning and growth, affirming my commitment to academic and personal development.

What advice do you have for others considering higher education — either at Northeastern or elsewhere?

As a student completing my last semester in the Master’s of Professional Studies in Informatics at Northeastern University, my advice for others considering higher education is to fully engage with the learning experience.

• Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, actively participate in discussions, and build a strong network with fellow students and faculty.
• Leverage the resources available, including career services and networking events, to prepare for post-graduation endeavors.
• Finally, cherish the journey and take pride in the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the academic pursuit.

Where do you see yourself after graduation?

After graduation, I aspire to secure a role in data analytics or cloud computing, leveraging the skills acquired during my master’s in professional studies in Informatics.

In five years, I envision myself in a leadership position, driving innovative solutions and contributing to the advancement of technology in a dynamic industry.

Sanover Tasneem

Getting a degree while life is happening isn’t always easy. How have you faced and overcome some of these challenges?

While the journey hasn’t always been easy, it has been very exhilarating. As an international student, the cultural differences present some obvious challenges. But the people I’ve met here and the professors in the courses never make me feel out of the place.

As a first-generation student, I needed financial support for my education and getting an on-campus position was tough. Applying and securing a co-op was also a big hurdle. Overall, CPS has given me a lot of opportunities to showcase my abilities and use the skills from my past work experience in India. I have just been so grateful for all the good things supporting my life and education here.

What do you do when you aren’t working, studying?

During my time at Northeastern, I have been very active in a lot of events. Be it orientation, homecoming, or giving day I always join these events and make connections there. So, one of my hobbies is collecting all sorts of goodies from Northeastern!

I really enjoy communications and serve as the Treasurer and SEO expert in Husky Communication – a student led organization at Northeastern. In my non-Northeastern activities, I also love reading and writing, especially fiction and biographies. And I love to travel. Whenever I get some time, or I have a semester break I go on travelling expedition and also make reels out of my experiences on Instagram.

I travelled solo to Cape Cod, New York, and Niagara Falls so far and I hope to cover more places. I also am a music fan. I listen to and sing Indian and English pop songs. Always a Swifty and Arijit’s fan!

Have you learned anything about yourself along the way?

My journey at Northeastern has been so much more than just a college or work experience. Moving entirely to a new country knowing no one has empowered me to try out everything on my own. I have learned that it is always worth it to take the leap of faith. Life is all about learning and trying new things. Even if you don’t succeed, every new experience is worth it because of the beautiful aspects you discover along the journey.

What is it like to be a part of the Northeastern community?

I feel immense pride to represent my country at this global university which is so diverse and inclusive. I have never felt out of place here. The students I study with and the colleagues I have been working with, their trust and support towards me it makes me feel so valued.

What advice do you have for others considering higher education — either at Northeastern or elsewhere?

Opting for higher education requires a whole lot of consideration and evaluation. Some of the advice I would like to share from my personal experience are:

• Do your research but trust your gut. A strong decision is always backed by thorough research.
• Always consider a good ROI on the university as well as its location. Is this someplace you can see yourself thriving outside of school?
• Do not panic. It may be the first time for many other students like you. You are not the only one new in a country or in a university.
• Make friends. You will always find people who share similar interests like yours.
• Network. Keep connecting with people and professors who can help you along the way during your time in the university. These are the people who will also be able to help you with the job opportunities. Connecting on Linkedin is a great start.

Where do you see yourself after graduation?

I am hoping to continue my current work in my Marketing Analyst position once I graduate and will start applying for relevant jobs in and around Boston. Over the next five years, I see myself in a successful job as a Data Analyst.

I always wanted to help others, and generating employment is one of the best ways to help people. Ultimately, I hope to start my own business as an entrepreneur where I can create jobs for others. I am also a great reader and writer and I hope to publish my book one day. Finger crossed!

Anything else you’d like to add?

I will just add that I am so thankful to my friends and colleagues here at Northeastern. Their immense love, belief, and support has helped me throughout this journey.

I can’t believe how close I am to graduation now. Time flies!!!

Insurance Analytics and Management Virtual Information Session

We’ll be covering how an MPS in Insurance Analytics and Management can help you be successful in one of the most essential industries in the world with a forward-thinking, data-driven approach. You’ll learn how Northeastern prepares you to stand out and thrive in this rapidly growing field and discover a multitude of career paths available to you.

During the event, you’ll also:

• Hear from Yvonne Leung, assistant teaching professor; Connie Emerson, associate teaching professor; and more.
• Learn about the core features of our flexible insurance analytics and management program, including available concentrations and experiential learning opportunities.
• Discover the latest industry trends and emerging technologies incorporated into the program.

Details:

Date: July 10, 2023

Time: 08:00 AM to 09:00 AM

Event Category: Online

Meet the CPS: A Taster Lecture – An Analytics Case Study

The importance and applications of analytics

Northeastern University in Arlington is pleased to host a taster lecture with the College of Professional Studies focusing on our Master of Professional Studies in Analytics.

In this class, we will talk about the importance and applications of analytics and the different building blocks for it. We will look at application areas and use cases. We will also discuss what the job market looks like for analytics in general and what opportunities exist.

Joseph Reilly is an assistant teaching professor in the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Analytics program at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies. Reilly acts as the innovation lead for the analytics program and provides program, faculty, student, and CPS support, as well as curricular oversight and best practices, including onboarding of new faculty. In addition to teaching a variety of analytics courses in his role as principal instructor, Reilly leads all general analytics-related operational program management, marketing, enrollment, and student-related issues, as well as advising activities. He leads academic integrity coordination across the domain, as well the development of noncredit offers, such as workshops.

Prior to joining Northeastern’s faculty, he worked as a senior product analyst and data scientist at Wayfair, where he designed semantic text extraction platforms to understand how suppliers, customers, and competitors described more than 10 million unique products. This drove a reduction in time required for suppliers to add products as well as iterative catalog cleanup efforts to remove erroneous values. He also implemented alerting and monitoring strategies for data science products to ensure product health in production, and automated human-in-the-loop processes to ensure timely, accurate review of model output.

During his doctoral work at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Reilly wrote and implemented novel technology-based science curricula that could formatively assess student performance and provide dynamic feedback for students as well as teachers. He also spearheaded the experimental design, implementation, and analysis of a multimodal learning analytics laboratory study that collected eye tracking, electrodermal activity, and posture observations on participants in a collaborative setting. Before pursuing his doctorate, he taught middle school science and high school chemistry for six years in Virginia and Washington, D.C.

We will also have time for a Q&A, so bring any questions you have for professor Reilly.

Four Students Were Named 2022 RISE Award Winners

Students, faculty, staff across Northeastern University, and industry leaders participated in the university’s annual RISE (Research, Innovation, Scholarship, Entrepreneurship) exhibition on April 14, 2022, a showcase for multidisciplinary student research and creative projects. Student competitors had the opportunity to virtually present their research to industry professionals and potential employers or investors.

This year, four College of Professional Studies graduate students were named RISE Award winners across three categories:

Category: Business and Entrepreneurship

Mary McNamara, Doctor of Education student ’22: Mentoring Others Elevates All: The Benefits of Diverse Mentor-Entrepreneur Dyads

• Mentor: Lindsay Portnoy, Associate Teaching Professor, Doctor of Education program

Corey Ortiz, MS Corporate and Organizational Communication student ’23: Feeling the Crunch: Expectations of Crunch Time in the Video Game Industry

• Mentor: Gladys McKie, Lecturer, MS Corporate and Organizational Communication program

Category: Interdisciplinary Topics, Centers, and Institutes

Asha Kiran Makwana, MPS Analytics student ‘22: KAPI (Keyboardless ASL-inspired Programming Interface)

• Mentor: Beverly Quon

Category: Social Sciences, Humanities, and Law

L’Bertrice Solomon, Doctor of Law and Policy student ‘22: Let Me Live: Corporate Environmental Exceptions, Failed Environmental Protections in Louisiana

• Mentor: J.D. LaRock, Professor of the Practice, Doctor of Law and Policy program

Congratulations to our awardees!

Instilling a Passion for Data Analytics in Boston High School Students

In June 2021, Alice Mello, Ph.D., was granted an award to develop and run a novel program, ‘Data Analytics Workshop: Empowering Minority High School Students with In-Demand Career Skills’ – from the Northeastern Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She also has leveraged support from the College of Professional Studies to support this high-impact initiative.

Mello’s interest was to ignite a passion for data analytics among the participating students through this preparatory course led by four graduate student mentors selected from the Master of Professional Studies in Analytics program, where Mello serves as an assistant teaching professor.

Called “Storytelling with Data,” the program was launched in three local schools: Edward M Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, where an in-person calculus class of 12 students studied data sets on Boston hospitals and COVID; Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, where two computer science classes attended virtual classes to study data sets on the chosen topics of games, movies, and Halloween; and Boston Day and Evening Academy, an alternative school for high school students, which attracted 13 math students for in-person learning. Students at the Academy first asked to study the war in Ukraine, but since data sets for this were hard to come by, they opted for public transportation instead.

Mentors began classes by explaining how data can be used to tell stories, by providing the context for any number of situations to show what is happening behind the scenes – and then how facts can create a visualization of patterns using the data visualization tool, Tableau. The climax of the story comes when the data reveals conflicts – which the data can also help resolve, using dashboards within Tableau.

The main goal of the program is to empower students to enter the field of data analytics, with a view to addressing the lack of diversity in the analytics field by inspiring students to continue their education at Bunker Hill Community College, the largest and most diverse community college in Massachusetts. This past year, CPS formed an agreement with BHCC that allows an easy transfer pathway for interested students, while offering Lowell Institute School scholarship support, depending on their financial needs.

“I am delighted at the success of this experience so far, both for the high school students and our MPSA graduate students (Teach to Learn and Learn to Teach!),” says Mello. “I’m committed to finding grant opportunities to offer this program on a yearly basis and I’m hopeful that we’ll see some of these students in our Bachelor of Science in Analytics or Bachelor of Science in Information Technology programs in a few years’ time!”

Dawn of the Global Consensus Toolkit

Diplomacy meets equity as an interdisciplinary partnership yields a powerful new platform aimed at leveling the policy-making playing field.

On its face, the request from the U.S. Department of State seemed simple: Design a digital dashboard to allow officials to quickly research how often United Nations (UN) member nations had sided with the U.S. on various topics. Wondering how often the votes of the U.S. and members of the G-77 have coincided on issues related to human rights? Nuclear arms and disarmament? Decolonization? Plug in the variables and find out.

In practice, it was anything but.

“From a policy perspective,” Associate Teaching Professor Fiona Creed says, “people often think there are a lot of possibilities, and there are. But then you add the data piece into it, and you realize—this may not be as straightforward as we think.”

It was the spring of 2020, and Creed had secured a project via the State Department’s Diplomacy Lab program, a public-private initiative wherein the federal agency partners with colleges and universities, outsourcing research and other tasks related to foreign policy challenges by offering student teams, led by faculty experts, the opportunity to wrestle with real-world problems.

For this particular project, the charge was to find a way to measure and visually render the degree to which members of the Group of 77 developing nations (a bloc that now numbers 134 and includes Cuba, Iran and Afghanistan) had voted in alignment with the U.S. Creed found the problem fascinating, and she knew her students in the College of Professional Studies’ Global Studies and International Relations graduate program would embrace the challenge.

She also knew they couldn’t do it alone.

The task was perfect for Creed’s students because it required researching, developing, and applying a sophisticated understanding of international relations to categorize UN resolutions and group them by topics and subtopics. But it also entailed logging the votes on each resolution, building digital dashboards, and figuring out the best ways to graphically render the decades of information contained in the UN voting history. Massive amounts of data were involved. The numbers would have to be crunched, the code written, and a design that would let users easily turn the figures into images such as bar graphs would have to be conceived and executed. All of it would take some serious expertise in programming and data analytics.

A long-awaited collaboration

Luckily, Creed knew just whom to call—in fact, that person was sitting right across the hall.

“Alice is very good at explaining to me how the data works and what’s actually possible,” Creed says of her colleague and office neighbor Alice (pronounced ah-LEE-say) Mello, an assistant teaching professor in the Master of Professional Studies in Analytics program. The picture that emerges as the two describe working together is a kind of collaborative counterpoint, with Creed the visionary international affairs expert and Mello the technical miracle worker—and grounding voice of reason.

“I come in with big ideas,” Creed says. “‘This is amazing! We can definitely do this! Absolutely! Consider it done!’ And then Alice is right there saying ‘No, actually, that’s not going to work, because the data just won’t support it—but here’s what will work.’”

That synergy, rooted in shared experience and complementary expertise, has been years in the making.

Creed, whose career has encompassed research, diplomacy, entrepreneurship and the nonprofit sector, was born in Ireland and started her professional life as a policy analyst at the EU Delegation to the United Nations in New York City. She later served as executive director of the United Nations Association of Greater Boston, where she oversaw operations including Model UN, the Association’s flagship experiential learning program focused on diplomacy and global issues. For her PhD in European Studies at University College, Cork, Creed studied EU coordination at the UN.

Mello, born in Brazil, began her professional career as a programmer while still a student at the Federal University of Bahia in Salvador, Brazil. She went on to work as a software engineer for Coelba, the big utility that distributes power in Bahia state. She later developed database management applications for the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, worked as a programmer at MIT and co-developed a technology-in-education consultancy. Her PhD from Tufts University is in Education, Technology, and Drama.

When the expatriates met at Northeastern, Mello says, they quickly found common ground, and before the Diplomacy Lab opportunity arose, they had long imagined working on a project together.

“I had a project with the UN in 2018,” Mello says, “and I approached Fiona about how we might make it sustainable, but we didn’t really end up pursuing it. Another time she asked me to present to students who needed data analytics on their projects. So we’ve had a few times that we’ve tried to work together, but nothing really went up. This time, it did.”

With students in their capstone classes and other courses onboard, the two educators launched the project. Soon, as global studies students sifted through thousands of UN resolutions, applying their knowledge of international affairs to categorize each, data analytics students began building the user dashboard and writing the code to generate a powerful, intuitive interface that would allow end-users to easily parse the information to suit their needs. As the students worked, their collaboration began to mirror that of their professors.

“One of the most interesting pieces for us was hearing the students interact,” Creed says. “The identification of the countries was becoming so fluent for the data analytics group that they were starting to notice things about the politics and to ask questions that the global studies students could answer. It was brilliant to see that come together.”

“For the analytics students it was super-interesting,” Mello adds, “because it’s basically getting qualitative data and transforming it into something quantitative. If it’s all quantitative, you punch in the numbers—and I’m not saying it’s easy—but you can do it. But to get qualitative data and then to transform that into quantitative, to look at patterns and have some basis for it statistically, that is where all the magic and the synergy came in.”

Inherent uncertainty

As students labored to build something new, part of the challenge became grappling with ambiguity. When you’re inventing something, it can be hard to know what success—or a good grade—will eventually look like. But learning to tolerate the uncertainty inherent in such a process, Creed and Mello say, actually helped students explore new modes of thinking.

“Working logically, analytically, but also understanding the process isn’t having all the answers, it’s figuring them out—I had never had that kind of thinking until I did my PhD,” Mello says. “But in this project, we tried to bring that to these students, because that’s the thinking that they need to do well to be good data scientists and good data analysts. It really resonated for me, to see them learning that way.”

Creed and Mello also note that, in some ways, the composition of the classes doing the work reflected the subject of the work itself.

“I had students from India, Ethiopia, a student based in Kuwait, and one in Qatar, who is in the U.S. military,” Creed says, “and then Alice’s group had students from China, India, and the U.S. When you’re looking at policy making and analyzing all of what was in front of us, it was really interesting to get the perspectives of students who were from the countries that they were working on and seeing patterns, or not seeing patterns, and then we could tease out afterwards with them, ‘What do you think of that?’ or ‘Why is that?’”

One of the most interesting developments, the researchers say, was the shift from a U.S. focus to a more global perspective. Engendered in conversation with their UN contacts, in the  perspectives of students from diverse countries of origin, and through their own lenses as immigrants, that shift came to reflect the deepest mission of the portal that would eventually be known as the Global Consensus Toolkit.

“A primary motivation for having a public access portal,” Creed and Mello write in the introduction to the visual analytics platform they and their students developed, “is to level the policy-making playing field.”

“There was a lot of data,” Creed says. “We worked with it, Alice and I, plus multiple teams of students. There are many departments of foreign affairs or governments, globally, that just do not have the time or money to dedicate to getting into the UN digital library, downloading everything, coding it, reworking it—and so that’s where coming back to that original Diplomacy Lab ask, that we saw the relevance of this material being publicly available. And the usefulness of it.”

Big audience, broad applications

That usefulness, Creed and Mello say, reaches far beyond international affairs. Although the Toolkit was designed with diplomats in mind as the end-users, the information it contains—and the lenses it provides for sorting and analyzing that information—might easily be applied in the work of researchers, think tanks, nonprofits, advocacy groups and policy decision-makers or anyone else seeking to accurately chart the tides of power and the relationships among nations over the past 20 years.

From their “client,” the Global Consensus Toolkit earned rave reviews. When students presented at the State Department via Zoom, the reception was unequivocal. A senior UN official in attendance, Creed reports, was astonished.

“He said, ‘That is amazing. We have tried to work with this data before and we have never seen anything like that,’” Creed says. On the spot, he proposed a continued collaboration, one that would involve digging even deeper—and would not require a new application through the Diplomacy Lab program. With that project in mind, Mello and Creed plan to align their capstone classes this winter and next spring. For now, they are delighted to invite the world to use the free, online tool they and their students developed.

“Fiona told me in the beginning that nobody had done this work before,” Mello says. “There have been some static models of voting patterns, but we were able to create an interactive dashboard that is really functional—and that, nobody has done.”