Processes (Quals, Letters, Meetings...)

I use a lot of processes to help me keep organized and efficient.  Processes are always a work in progress.  Please check in for changes and additions.

 Scheduling a qual, mini-qual, DAC, PhD defense, Master's defense, etc.

I am both eager to be part of this important milestone, and the scheduling drives me crazy.  Thus, I am now offering to be part of your qual, mini-qual, DAC, PhD defense, Master's defense, or similar type of event four days of the year (roughly 1 winter, 3 late spring/early summer). 

The process: if you're the first to ask for a given time of year, you'll get some flexibility in choosing the date. Once a date is determined, it'll go below with additional open times on that date. If you and the rest of the committee can meet at a time that is NOT taken, the date is yours. If there are less than the allocated days (1 winter, 3 spring/summer), then you can propose a new date. If none of the above applies/works, then sadly, I cannot be on your committee.  But we are very happy to host you for a group tea/meeting for you to share and brainstorm about your work. All requests should go to finale-lab@g.harvard.edu 

Dates for 2025-2026: The time slots are 9-10:30, 10:30-12, 12:30-2. The dates are: May 4,  May 5, and May 12 + TBD. May 4 9:00-10:30, 10:30-12:00 are TAKEN. May 5 12:30-2 is TAKEN. May 12 12:30-2 is TAKEN

Dates for 2024-2025: The time slots are 9-10:30, 10:30-12, 12:30-2.  The dates are: April 30, May 2, and May 7 + TBD.  April 30 at 9, 10:30 is TAKEN.  May 2 at 10:30, 12:30 is TAKEN.  May 7 at 9, 10:30, and 12:30 are TAKEN.

Dates for 2023-2024: The time slots are 9-10:30, 10:30-12, 12:30-2.  The dates are: April 29, May 1, May 2, and May 3.  April 29, May 1, May 2, and May 3 at 10:30-12 are TAKEN.  May 1, May 3 9-10:30 are TAKEN.  April 29, May 2 12:30-2 are TAKEN.

Dates for 2021-2022: Sept. 24: 11-12:45 is TAKEN.  January date TBD.  May 2: 11am is TAKEN, 1pm is TAKEN, 3pm is TAKEN, May 5: 11, 1pm, 3pm is TAKEN, May 6: 11am, 1pm is TAKEN 

Dates for 2020-2021 are January 15: 11-1, 1-3; Feb. 3 1-3pm;  May 3: 9-11, 11-1, 1-2, 3-4:30; May 7 9-11, 11-1, 1-3, 3-4:30 is taken.  ALL SLOTS FOR May 2021 ARE TAKEN.  

For 2019-2020, I will use the same time slots as before.  The dates will be: September 9 and 10 [Sep. 9 11-1 is taken. Sept. 10 2-4pm is taken.].  January 27 and 28 [January 27 11-1pm, 1-3pm, 3pm-4:30pm* is taken, January 28 3-4:30 is taken].  May 4 and 5 [May 4 9:30-11, 11-1, 1-3,* 3-4:30 is taken; May 5 11-1, 1-3, 3-4:30 is taken]

For 2018-2019, these will be: September 17 and 18; January 21 and 22, and May 20 and 21.  The Monday slots will be 11-1, 1-3, and 3-4:30; the Tuesday slots will be 8-10, 10-12, 12-2, and 2-4.  [January 21 3-4:30 , January 22 8-10, 10-12 , May 21 10-12, 12-2, 2-4 May 20 11-1, 1-3, 3-4:30 is taken.]

Recommendation Letters
FIRST, be in touch with me (email finale-lab@g.harvard.edu , office hours, etc.) to confirm that I can write you a letter.  THEN, if I've agreed ALSO fill out this google form which has more specific directions: https://forms.gle/k7nKHwQHoZBxwnRP7 ... This is so that I don't forget anyone.  Please plan to give me at least 5-6 weeks advance notice, and note that for graduate school admissions, I do my letters in batches so you must be organized enough to have all your letters submitted by the dates I send (usually late October for November deadlines, late November for December deadlines).

Committee Work, etc.

Between my role as faculty Co-Director for the Data Science Master's Program, Faculty Advisor for InTouch, Director of the Center for Human-driven AI Research and Methods, and junior faculty mentoring, I'm currently at max capacity for other committee work. That said, I'm very interested in faculty governance and how to make processes more efficient so we can spend more time doing the intellectual and educational work while also doing administration well -- I'll always try to make time to be a sounding board for such!