From Track to Trading: How Data Science Is Powering NCAA All-American Harrison Witt’s Career

Davene Wasser

January 29, 2026

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Admissions

MSDS

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Student Spotlight

Harrison Witt

Education:
M.S. in Data Science, 2026, University of Virginia
B.S. in Operations Research and Financial Engineering, 2025, Princeton University

Hometown:
Highlands Ranch, C.O.

After earning his undergraduate degree at Princeton University, Harrison Witt realized that the University of Virginia’s M.S. in Data Science (MSDS) in-person, residential program was the missing piece he was looking for to help him reach his career goals. Witt, an accomplished NCAA Division I athlete and a three-time All-American, explains why he chose data science and how others can thrive in the MSDS program.

Q: Tell us about your path to data science.

My undergraduate classes focused on computational optimization and theoretical mathematics. I have a passion for financial markets. Data science is the missing piece of the puzzle to connect my undergraduate skillset to my professional aspirations. I enrolled in this program to gain practical experience with quantitatively using my theoretical knowledge in real-world settings and problems. Sure, I can price one option using Black-Scholes on paper, but I am learning how to write programs that will price thousands of options simultaneously, which then opens the door for tons of fascinating extensions.

Q: What do you hope to do with a master’s in data science?

I am currently employed by Constellation Energy on their commodities trading desk. My responsibilities consist of cleaning, back testing, and analyzing large datasets. I aspire to earn a seat as a trader who wears risk and takes discretionary positions in the market.

Q: What has surprised you about the M.S. in Data Science program so far?

I was surprised at how accommodating my professors have been with regards to the student population's educational background. They are excited that we all bring different skillsets and experience to the table, and to support this belief, they have done a phenomenal job ensuring that everyone is on the same page when reviewing and teaching new concepts. They offer more rigorous problems to students who are advanced, while simultaneously offering additional support to students who do not have experience in a topic. This allows every student to feel supported, as well as intellectually challenged, by their course material.

Q: What class do you look forward to taking?

I am fascinated by one of my current classes: Data Pipeline Architecture, taught by professor Jonathan Kropko. He is providing us with the toolset to pull data from any web sources and appropriately process it, which is such a valuable skill in the real world where data never comes to you in a clean csv format. In the summer I look forward to taking Big Data Systems, which is the sequel to the aforementioned class. In this I will learn to design dataflow systems and use the cloud effectively. This will allow me to be a valuable contributor within my company and work collaboratively on multi-member projects.

Q: What advice would you give to someone considering an MSDS?

I recommend doing an honest analysis of your current skillset. Identify where you are skilled and where you wish to develop new skills. This will allow you to build off your past knowledge without losing what you have previously learned. I also recommend having an idea of what specifically you want to do in the workforce, because this MSDS program allows for lots of customization and tailoring to your specific goals. You can get as much out of this experience as you put into it, so the more clarity you can bring when entering the program, the more you will thrive.

Q: What are some fun facts about yourself?

I ranked No. 14 in NCAA history in the men's 1 mile race (3:52) and am a three-time NCAA Division I All-American. My little brother, Grayson (19), has a perfect 4.0 GPA at the University of Georgia, and still attends every single football game. Go dawgs!