Joseph E. Hibdon, Jr. is a descendent of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Mission Indians.  He received his PhD in Applied Mathematics from Northwestern University in 2011.  Currently he is an associate professor of mathematics at Northeastern Illinois University, a Hispanic Serving Institution in Chicago, Illinois.  Dr. Hibdon works in many interdisciplinary teams across the country to increase diversity in STEM and broadening the participation of students in research at the undergraduate level.  Dr. Hibdon's recent research is in mathematical modeling, with a focus on public health and biological phenomena and data science with a focus on social justice.