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Balancing Work, Study, and Discovery in UVA’s Online MSDS Program
Jasmine Waller
Education
M.S. in Data Science 2026, University of Virginia
B.S. in Applied Mathematics 2024, Old Dominion University
Hometown
Virginia Beach, VA
Employment
The Ring Championships Cheer and Dance, Assistant Financial Analyst (Virginia Beach, VA)
From national cheerleading competitions to data analysis at NASA, Jasmine Waller has built a unique path to the field of data science. A Virginia Beach native and assistant financial analyst, Waller combined her background in applied mathematics with hands-on experience in analytics and visualization to chart her way toward graduate study.
Now a member of the University of Virginia’s (UVA) M.S. in Data Science Online program, she is already applying her skills through impactful work, most recently as a contracted data scientist at NASA Langley Research Center. In this Q&A, Waller shares how her experiences in athletics, analytics, and research have shaped her journey, why she chose UVA’s online program, and how she hopes to use data science to make a difference across industries.
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Q: Tell us about your path to Data Science.
After earning my bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics, I knew I had many opportunities ahead of me, though I hadn’t yet decided which path to pursue. My analytical skills led me to a position as an assistant financial analyst at a start-up, where I discovered a growing interest in analytics, data visualization, and storytelling through data.
To build on that interest, I enrolled in Google’s Data Analytics course on Coursera, which gave me a clearer picture of the field and deepened my enthusiasm. Motivated to advance further, I explored graduate programs in data science and was fortunate to be admitted to the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science.
Q: Can you share your recent internship experience?
This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern as a Contracted Data Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center through Amentum. While working under the Center of Maintenance, Operations, and Engineering (CMOE) contract, I was tasked with analyzing 10 years of work order data to find trends, calculate asset performance, and identify low-performing assets.
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In collaboration with engineers, analysts, and subject matter experts, I reached insightful findings and shared them in presentations with upper management on a weekly basis. While there, I also had the opportunity to tour the wind tunnels and other facilities, learning about the history of the Langley Research Center. The experience and growth developed during this internship encouraged me to continue to expand my knowledge in data science, and I hope to one day return to NASA as a full-time employee.
Q: What do you hope to do with an M.S. in Data Science degree?
I hope to solve problems using data, AI, and machine learning. A mentor at NASA taught me that if you have the hard and soft skills of a data scientist, you can apply them to any industry with the collaboration of subject matter experts. I want to explore and help as many people as I can through data.
Q: What excited you about the MSDS program?
Academic integrity, real-world Projects, and community. UVA is the original pioneer in having a dedicated school of data science, which puts it ahead of the curve. The accumulation of staff from different industries gives us the opportunity for realistic projects in our coursework to test the application of our knowledge.
The emphasis on community in both residential and online programs ensures that you are never on your own. There are a multitude of resources for you to use while you’re here if you only take advantage of them.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a Master’s in Data Science?
As with any investment, do your research. I highly recommend taking an introductory analytics course or consulting with a data scientist to determine if this is something you want to explore further. From there, I would highly recommend UVA’s School of Data Science program. The online program gives flexibility, community, and the opportunity to attend events on campus to extend your network in data science.
Q: What are some fun facts about yourself?
I am a retired professional cheerleader. I worked with the National Cheerleaders Association for 13 years as a Head Instructor, traveling the country to assist in the improvement of cheerleading programs.
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