Upon completing my industrial engineering degree, I was hired by Boeing which brought me to Seattle from Massachusetts. I knew at some point that I wanted to continue my educational journey. While working at Boeing, I began reflecting on which aspects of my education at UMass Amherst I’d like to deepen if I were to pursue a master’s program. I enjoyed my operation research classes that involved linear programming. The operations research class about healthcare that I took my last semester was a particular favorite. Combine this with my background in industrial engineering and a significant number of coding-based classes I took as an undergraduate, I felt confident that data science was where I wanted to further my education.

Q: What do you hope to do with a data science master's degree?

I have a sincere interest in the analysis of numbers. I am hoping to expand my knowledge and understanding of data science to boost my professional career. Because of my background in industrial engineering and coding from UMass, as well as the experience I have gained while working at Boeing, data science seems like a natural progression for me. I am not sure what the future holds but am hoping to broaden my knowledge of machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Q: What excited you about the MSDS program at UVA?

The study of data science is very broad, so what I am most excited about is the ability to take electives. New topics of study allow a student to find a certain niche within the field which is what I am looking for. So far, everything within data science is very appealing. I would love to find a particular aspect of the field to which I can gravitate. This would help me find professional opportunities within data science.

Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a Master's in Data Science?

I would tell them to be open to collaboration and seek help when needed, especially when debugging code. Just because you run into a roadblock does not mean it is the end of the world. Collaboration is a big part of work culture and being able to talk to others about your approach to a problem and find ways to fix it together will go a long way during school and beyond.

Q: What are some fun facts about yourself?

One fact about me is that I love traveling. I have been to ten different countries and would like to visit more. Another fun fact is that I am a die-hard Boston Celtics fan. Whenever I am in town, I make sure to attend at least one game at the TD Garden. Finally, I was born in Kinisha, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.