Episode 70 – From Lagos to UX: Dr. Aishat Aloba’s Journey in Computing

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen

Guest: Dr. Aishat Aloba

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Episode Description:

In this episode, Dr. Aishat Aloba joins hosts Dr. Jeremy Waisome and Dr. Kyla McMullen to discuss her journey as a Black woman in computing. Dr. Aloba shares her experiences growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, and the misconceptions about Africa. She talks about her initial interest in computer engineering and how she discovered her passion for computer science. Dr. Aloba also highlights the importance of community and the role it played in her transition to studying in the United States. She shares her experiences at the University of Mississippi and the opportunities she had to get involved in research. The episode concludes with Dr. Aloba discussing her decision to pursue a PhD and her current work in user experience research.

Key Takeaways:

• Dr. Aishat Aloba grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and had a positive experience living in a vibrant and modern city.
  
• She initially wanted to pursue a career in accounting but later discovered her passion for computer science.
  
• Dr. Aloba’s parents, who are both engineers, influenced her decision to study computer science.
  
• She attended an all-girls boarding school in Nigeria, which provided a unique sense of community and lifelong friendships.
  
• Dr. Aloba’s experience at the University of Mississippi prepared her for graduate school and research opportunities.
  

Aishat’s Bio:-::

Dr. Aishat Aloba is a User Experience Researcher at Meta, where she dedicates her expertise to advancing product equity and responsible AI development. In her role, she focuses on making sure that products are built to meet the needs and motivations of diverse user populations, especially those from historically underserved communities. She received her PhD in Human-Centered Computing from the University of Florida, where she pioneered research on tailoring motion recognition algorithms to children’s motion qualities and has published in top HCI conferences. She received her M.Sc and B.Sc in Computer Science from the University of Florida and University of Mississippi respectively.