Chapter Four
Innovation in Technology and the Humanities
"Pushing the boundaries of how we understand and interpret social phenomena."
Dr. Mendenhall's work is characterized by its innovative use of technology to address complex social questions. She has been at the forefront of integrating computational social science with qualitative methods, pushing the boundaries of how we understand and interpret social phenomena.
A diagram illustrating the intersection of computational sociology and social science.
Shaping Socially Responsible AI
Dr. Mendenhall has been a key voice in conversations about AI and social responsibility. She co-authored a 2024 article in Communications of the ACM on the role of universities in promoting ethical AI, emphasizing the need for technology to serve the public good.
Recovering Black Women's History
Her groundbreaking project utilizes supercomputing power to analyze over 800,000 historical documents, recovering and amplifying the voices of Black women from the past.
Big Data Analysis
Analyzing millions of tweets to understand gendered linguistic patterns around violence against Black women.
Supercomputing
Leveraging high-performance computing to process vast archives of historical text.
Ancestral Math: Reclaiming Heritage
Applying big data and historical recovery to education, Dr. Mendenhall launched Ancestral Math. This platform connects students with 20,000 years of African mathematical innovations, from the Ishango Bone to modern algorithms.
Robotics Integration (2025-2026)
Introduced N1CØLE and HARMØN1, emotional support robots designed to help youth manage anxiety while learning complex subjects like Algebra II. These robots have been presented to high school students and medical students at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine.
- •95% Grade Improvement reported by students using the platform.
- •Culturally Relevant examples from gaming, cooking, and sports.
- •Community Support features to share strategies and celebrate wins.
Poet Laureate of Urbana
In 2024, her creative talents were recognized when she was named the 4th Poet Laureate for the City of Urbana, Illinois. This appointment reflects her belief in the power of art and poetry to heal and build community, a theme that runs through all of her work.
Dr. Mendenhall combines creative expression with scholarly rigor.