The Center for Applied Data Science (CADS) at WSSU is an institution-wide initiative with the goal of fostering research and education in data-driven knowledge discovery. CADS aims to bring together computer scientists and domain scientists with complex Data Science problems to promote and accelerate data-intensive discovery and education. Ongoing research projects are in the areas of pharmacoengineering, mobile crowdsensing, spatial justice and social mobility, healthcare management, and music’s biophysical influence on the human body. The center is also focuses on enhancing inclusion and diversity in data science research and education by promoting various institution-wide and community outreach activities. The center received its inaugural funding of 1.5M in the Fall of 2020 for three years funded by the UNC Research Opportunities Initiative (ROI).