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Meet the 2023-2024 Graduate Data Science Council
The Graduate Data Science Council (GDSC) represents all graduate students at the School of Data Science. Its mission is to enhance the experience of graduate students by building a sense of community among residential graduate data science students and facilitating interactions with students in other graduate programs at the University of Virginia as well as the Charlottesville community.
The Graduate Data Science Council is committed to being a national leader in the creation and sharing of data knowledge within a culture that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Interested in learning more about GDSC? Email Jessica Beverly, assistant director of student affairs.
Tom Hammons, GDSC President
Hometown: I'm originally from southern Connecticut, but I've most recently lived in Oakland, California, as well as Chicago.
Q: What does your council position entail?
My position gives me a chance to develop great relationships with the members of my cohort. I'm then able to advocate and represent their interests at governing events.
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in data science at UVA?
I chose UVA's master's program in data science because I have professional experience coding, and I want to expand upon the skills I've developed so far. So far, one of the most exciting opportunities has been learning how to apply and leverage recent developments in machine learning methodologies to become a more productive programmer.
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
A course on reinforcement learning! I've heard that there is an introductory class offered in the spring. I've been interested in learning how to apply deep reinforcement learning to problems in quantitative finance, and this class is exactly what I've been looking for.
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Alexa Owen, Vice President
Hometown: Louisa, Virginia
Q: What does your council position entail?
As VP, my job is to help make sure GDSC stays on track for planned events, run meetings, and interact with faculty and staff to give students a voice.
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in data science at UVA?
I chose the MSDS program at UVA because the academics of the program were interesting and built upon the foundation I got with the data science minor at UVA as an undergrad. (I also get to spend another year in the UVA community as a student!)
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
I am most looking forward to the formal we will be having in the spring semester because it will be a way to celebrate almost completing the MSDS program and give our cohort the ability to relax and have a fun night together.
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Jackie Fraley, Treasurer
Hometown: Northern Virginia
Q: What does your council position entail?
I am responsible for creating budgets by collaborating with other officers and applying for funds from various university opportunities. My role also involves identifying and executing fundraising opportunities and managing a structured disbursement and reimbursement process for approved and well-spent funds, ensuring financial accountability within our organization!
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in data science at UVA?
I choose the MSDS program at UVA since this program was the best fit for my future goals. The School of Data Science provides multiple opportunities to succeed, and the size of the cohort was really important to me.
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
I am looking forward to the formal we are putting on in the spring! It will be a great opportunity to celebrate and make lots of memories with my cohort!
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Stephanie Fissel, Student Events and Activities Chair
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia
Q: What does your council position entail?
I have the responsibility of planning social functions for the MSDS residential cohort and collaborating with students from other UVA graduate programs to extend our network in the UVA community. I collaborate with other chair members of the GDSC to create an organized calendar of events and act as a liaison for other chairs. My role aims to enhance the sense of community amongst the cohort and extend connections beyond the classroom through engaging and well-coordinated activities.
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in Data Science at UVA?
Choosing to pursue my MSDS at UVA was a natural decision for me. During my undergrad at UVA, I majored in economics and minored in data science, where I had the privilege of learning from exceptional professors from the School of Data Science and fellow students with diverse academic backgrounds.
UVA has been like a second home to me, and I love the sense of community here. I believe that this program not only allows me to further explore my passions but also provides a strong foundation for my future career, offering the perfect blend of academic excellence and real-world skills, as well as a supportive network of peers and professors.
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
I am most looking forward to the GDSC Formal in the spring! As student events and activities chair, I have the honor of leading the planning and organization of this event, and while it will undoubtedly be a significant undertaking, I couldn’t be more excited about it because of the support from fellow council and cohort members.
This event is a unique opportunity to bring our entire cohort together for a night of celebration and reflection on how far we’ve come in this program; it symbolizes our achievements, underscores the sense of community we’ve built, and provides an opportunity to create lasting memories and strengthen the bonds we’ve formed.
Through social events such as the Formal, I believe that these connections will not only enrich our time in the program but also extend beyond graduation, providing a strong support system for each other as we navigate our future career paths.
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Tripat Panesar, Communications Chair
Hometown: I'm originally from Mumbai, India, but I now live in Roanoke, Virginia.
Q: What does your council position entail?
I send emails and communicate events that GDSC is hosting to the rest of the cohort! It’s my job to get all the information to the rest of the student body!
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in data science at UVA?
I went here for undergrad, and I love the campus and the people here are amazing!
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
I am looking forward to MSDS Formal in the spring!
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Sunidhi Goyal, Professional Development Chair
Hometown: Dehradun, India
Q: What does your council position entail?
I am responsible for creating professional development opportunities for the cohort based on their needs while fostering connections with Career Services and Alumni Programming to facilitate meaningful career-building opportunities.
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in data science at UVA?
I chose this program due to the diverse range of opportunities it offers. The professors and students come from a multitude of educational backgrounds but are all passionate about solving real-world problems, and this spoke to my aspirations, making me want to be a part of the School of Data Science at UVA.
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
I am most excited about our graduation ceremony, where we'll be together to celebrate the culmination of a year's worth of dedicated effort and achievements. I am excited to see my cohort mates and me making remarkable accomplishments, and this ceremony will mark the beginning of it all.
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Elisabeth Waldron, Inclusive Excellence Chair
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
Q: What does your council position entail?
I am responsible for fostering relationships with organizations within the UVA -- such as student organizations and other offices -- and Charlottesville communities, and for expanding the resources available to underserved and underrepresented communities within data science. I help coordinate events with community partners to encourage students to pursue data science. I also represent GDSC at DEI events, such as MLK Day Celebration, and I partner with the online MSDS representatives for online student communication and engagement opportunities.
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in data science at UVA?
The connections that I made prior to even starting: a previous admissions ambassador, Bella Samper, and the very patient and understanding Sadie Royal Collins, director of academic operations and admissions. Lastly, UVA is one of the top-ranking public institutions in the country, and hearing testimonies of what the MSDS program offered, I believed that I would receive an exceptional education.
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
Family Night and our formal. It will be nice to see everyone with their loved ones at the end of the year and be able to look back and see how much we have all accomplished throughout our time in MSDS.
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Ethan Assefa, UJC Representative
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia – but I have lived all over the U.S., including Michigan, New York, Florida, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Q: What does your council position entail?
I serve as the representative for the School of Data Science in the University Judiciary Committee, a student-led judiciary organization which strives to investigate and adjudicate violations of university Standards of Conduct. I hope to, first, ensure the School has a voice and contributes to the student-led system at UVA, and also to advocate for restorative justice in the judicial process.
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in data science at UVA?
I was an undergrad here at UVA and I really liked the faculty in the program such as Dr. Prince Afriyie and Dr. Brian Wright, both of whom I took courses with in undergrad. Additionally, I appreciate the MSDS program's focus on ethical and socially conscious data science, which I don't see as much in data science programs at other universities.
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
I'm very excited about the formal in spring! We've been putting in a lot of work to make sure that it's a great experience, even renting out the Dome room at the Rotunda!
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Brendan Puglisi, Honor Committee Representative
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia
Q: What does your council position entail?
My position entails being a liaison between the School of Data Science and the Honor Committee, ensuring student and faculty voices are heard and the Honor Code of the University of Virginia is upheld.
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in data science at UVA?
I attended UVA as an undergraduate acquiring a degree in global studies. I chose the MSDS program because I wanted to further my education at UVA while complementing my humanities degree with unique technological skills.
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
The event I am most excited for this year is Datapalooza because it has been continually evolving since its launch and I am excited to see what this year has in store!
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Matthew Bonner, Honor Committee Representative
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Q: What does your council position entail?
I work on the honor council and provide a bridge of communication between the honor council and the school of data science.
Q: Why did you choose the M.S. in data science at UVA?
I chose to pursue a master's in data science as I am interested in learning more about machine learning and how data impacts our modern world.
Q: What GDSC event are you most looking forward to this year and why?
Datapalooza looks like it will be an interesting event and I'm excited to see what I'll be able to learn! The future of AI will doubtlessly be of great importance, and I hope this event will help all who attend see the direction in which things are headed.
