Nandini Kannan was born in Bhopal, India, and completed her schooling in Mumbai and New Delhi. She enjoyed solving math puzzles as a child, inheriting her love of mathematics from her father, a mathematician. After completing a master’s degree at the University of Madras, Kannan joined the University of Pittsburgh to work with C. R. Rao. She is proud of her work at the National Science Foundation developing interdisciplinary research and training programs in data science and is passionate about the critical role science and technology play in this global interconnected society. Kannan is committed to developing and supporting initiatives that address diversity and equity in the STEM workforce.