Evelyn Panagakou, PhD

Evangelia (Evelyn) Panagakou (she/her) is a physicist and applied mathematician with a specialty in applied developmental and educational psychology. Her commitment to diversity is reflected in her professional role and her volunteer organizational leadership positions. Currently she is the Education, Outreach, and Diversity Coordinator of the Network Science Institute at Northeastern University. In this role, she is responsible for the development and career advising of doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, and she designs, delivers, and oversees educational activities and programs for the Institute. Evelyn also supports and evaluates a diversity, equity, and inclusion program at the Institute and functions as a liaison between the Institute and other relevant stakeholders and leaders within Northeastern University as well as with external community partners and collaborators.

Evelyn is a member of the Executive Committee in the Complex Systems Society (CSS) and a former member of MOBS lab, founding member of the Young Researchers Network on Complex Systems (currently yrCSS), and helped bootstrap the Society of Young Network Scientists (SYNS).

Since 2018, she has been one of the organizers of the Network Science and Education Satellite at the annual Network Science Conference (NetSci); she now leads the Satellite Diversify NetSci. Her work has enabled students to gain visibility by presenting their work, receive advice from seasoned scientists, participate in networking events, and explore career opportunities at a job fair. Evelyn holds a PhD in Physics, an M.S. in Applied Mathematics, and an M.S. in Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology. She also holds a certificate for the completion of the program Apprenticeship in College Teaching offered by the Center for Teaching Excellence at Boston College.

Her current research interests include the quality of mentoring relationships as well as learning science, particularly cognitive, contextual, and cultural processes that support STEM learning.