Ideas that Connect.

Our Mission

Vision

To become the preeminent intellectual beacon, inspiring collaborative, equitable, and impactful data innovations as a global force for good.

History

Founded in December of 2019 with a $25 million gift from alumnus Robert Lumpkins and his wife, Sara, the Lucy Family Institute contributes to scholarship and education related to the relationship between data and society, with the goal of using data and innovation as a force for good in the world.

As a part of its establishment, the Lucy Family Institute integrated two pre-existing research centers at the University that operated with a primary focus on data science, societal interface, and interdisciplinary applications of data science: the Center for Network and Data Science (CNDS) and the Center for Social Science Research (CSSR).

What we do

The Lucy Family Institute brings expertise in data science, AI, data engineering, computing, applications, and methods. The Institute also brings forth core societal expertise in areas of human development, peace accord, ethics, global development, and poverty studies. 

Combining these core capabilities enables the Lucy Family Institute to compile best-in-class research teams aligned toward specific societal challenges that translate out of research and into practice. We do this through research, funding, education, outreach and through special initiatives.