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Class of 2026 Data Science Graduates Prepare to Shape the Future of AI and Society
The University of Virginia School of Data Science celebrated the achievements of the August 2025, December 2025, and May 2026 graduates during its diploma ceremony on May 17 at Old Cabell Hall, recognizing the students whose work and leadership reflect the School’s mission to practice responsible data science and AI for the common good.
The ceremony honored graduates from the School’s Ph.D. in Data Science and M.S. in Data Science programs, representing a broad range of professional backgrounds, research areas, and industries.
Assistant professor of practice in data science Renée Cummings opened the ceremony by reflecting on the graduates’ resilience, humanity, and responsibility as future leaders in artificial intelligence and data science.
“In this rapidly changing world, you will help determine whether technology expands human possibility and whether innovation truly serves humanity,” Cummings said. “The systems you design, the models you deploy, and the decisions you influence will leave bold fingerprints on the future.”
She also reminded graduates that technical expertise alone is not enough.
“The world does not simply need more intelligence,” Cummings said. “It needs wisdom. It needs integrity. It needs people who are courageous enough to ensure that innovation never outruns humanity.”
Graduate speaker Timothy Rodriguez (MSDS ’25), a machine learning operations engineer at LMI, reflected on balancing graduate school alongside career, family, deployments, and personal responsibilities while learning how data science can create meaningful impact.
Rodriguez highlighted projects involving disaster response and medical imaging, emphasizing that data science can improve lives when applied thoughtfully and accessibly.
“If we could do this as students during a semester-long project, just think of the problems we will solve tomorrow as graduates,” Rodriguez said.
The School also presented the Wood Family Award for Outstanding Student in Data Science to Camisha Belle (MSDS ’26) in recognition of exceptional academic performance and contributions to the School community.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by Kemi Jona, UVA’s vice provost for online education and digital innovation, whose work focuses on expanding access to learning through technology and innovation.
Jona encouraged graduates to view curiosity and persistence as essential skills for navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
“In the age of AI, these qualities are perhaps more important than any specific coding skill or data science technique you learned along the way,” Jona said.
Reflecting on his own path into artificial intelligence and educational technology, Jona told graduates that while the future of AI remains uncertain, their willingness to keep learning will remain one of their greatest strengths.
“As you prepare to navigate your next chapter, remember this: While we are facing both scary and exciting times ahead, you are armed with the knowledge and skills you gained here at UVA to help you tackle the challenging problems that lie ahead,” Jona said.
The ceremony also recognized six Ph.D. graduates whose research spans AI safety, multimodal foundation models, adaptive deep learning, autism research, and artificial intelligence for math reasoning and education.
Thomas Stewart, associate professor of data science and director of the Ph.D. program, described the doctoral degree as “about innovation and creativity” and celebrated the graduates for advancing how researchers collect, analyze, and interpret data.
Bryan Christ received the School’s inaugural Distinguished Dissertation Award, recognizing research that exemplifies impact, creativity, and rigor. Christ also received the 2026 Edgar F. Shannon Award, presented by the Z Society to the School’s top graduating student.
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Jonathan Kropko, program director for the online M.S. in Data Science program, recognized the determination of graduates who completed the rigorous program while managing demanding professional and personal responsibilities. He reminded graduates that education creates opportunities not only for career advancement, but also for meaningful societal impact.
Interim Stephenson Dean Jeffrey Blume closed the ceremony by emphasizing the School’s commitment to responsible AI and thoughtful leadership at a time of rapid technological change.
“Data science is not just about building models,” Blume said. “It is about judgment. It is about asking better questions. It is about understanding uncertainty, recognizing limitations, and using evidence responsibly in the service of people and society.”
Blume also reflected on the legacy of founding dean Philip E. Bourne, whose vision for a collaborative “School Without Walls” helped shape the School’s identity and mission.
“To the master’s and Ph.D. graduates of the School of Data Science: congratulations and good luck,” Blume said. “We are proud of what you have achieved, and excited to see what you will build next.”
