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Double Take: Building Community Through Storytelling at the School of Data Science
For one February evening, the University of Virginia School of Data Science community came together not as students, faculty, staff, or alumni but as individuals with unique life experiences to share. The inaugural “Double Take: Data Science Edition,” inspired by UVA President Jim Ryan’s initiative to encourage storytelling across the University’s schools, created a warm and welcoming atmosphere where members of the School connected beyond academia.
Stories That Bring Us Together
The event featured seven storytellers, each offering a glimpse into their personal journeys. The tapestry of stories, woven with humor and tenderness, covered tales of exploration and navigating life’s uncertainties, all reinforcing the sense of camaraderie among attendees.
- Prince Afriyie reflected on his upbringing in rural Ghana, where the discipline and encouragement from his parents, particularly his mother, helped him pursue his dreams, and how randomness and improbability led this future statistician to New Jersey, Northern Kentucky, and ultimately Charlottesville, Va.
- Rebecca Schmidt shared her and her partner’s emotional journey with trying to start a family, highlighting the power of kinship and how when we feel powerless, we still have a choice.
- Mason Nicoletti recounted his spontaneous decision to try out for UVA’s club rowing team, an experience that shaped his college years in unexpected ways.
- Jade Preston described the perseverance required to meet Air Force ROTC standards, with the support of family, self-reliance, and some impressive intestinal fortitude.
- Phil Bourne detailed his harrowing experience surviving a train derailment and how it deepened his appreciation for the human spirit, the fragility of life, and always remembering that you need to do something special with the life you’ve been given.
- Matt Dakolios spoke candidly about overcoming imposter syndrome in data science and how embracing support from peers and mentors helped him find his own path to success.
- Courtney Hodge paid a beautiful tribute to her Air Force veteran parents, reflecting on the sacrifices they made as soldiers, as a family, and how growing up as a military brat shaped her formative years.
More Than Just Data: The Stories Behind the Scientists
The event was certainly more than just hot cocoa and speeches; it was a chance to strengthen relationships and foster deeper connections.
“Double Take was an opportunity to share and connect in a way that we don’t often experience at work,” said Schmidt. “I so much appreciate the conversations sparked by my story and the new relationships.”
The evening reinforced that the power of data extends beyond numbers — it is about people, experiences, and the narratives that shape our understanding of the world. Audience member Stephanie Joynes talked about how this was an incredible chance to see colleagues and students in a new light.
“Every story was thoughtfully shared with such vulnerability and honesty,” Joynes said. “While we may work with technology, we are so beautifully human.”
Although President Ryan was unable to attend, he sent a message to the storytellers and organizers: “It’s so important for communities around UVA to have time and space to physically come together and listen to each other.”
The School of Data Science was the first to host its own version of Double Take, with five more schools at the University hosting later this spring. Given the positive reception of the inaugural event, the School plans to make this an annual tradition.
Relive the Stories
Whether you attended in person or are hearing about it for the first time, watch the full event in the video below and experience the stories that brought the UVA School of Data Science community closer together.
