Online M.S. in Data Science Graduates Class of 2021

Congratulations to the December 2021 graduates of the Online M.S. in Data Science! The cohort of 20 students began the program in the summer of 2020.

"We celebrate a cohort that started their journey in the middle of a global pandemic and yet excelled academically. They supported one another through challenges and share unforgettable moments. They were the first to organize social happy hours to connect with one another outside of lectures. They served as self-advocates for their academic experience and for other cohorts to follow. They sought opportunities to connect with senior cohort members and programs where shared experiences could be valued. They will be remembered for their passionate dedication to supporting one another and advocacy for growth in the program." —Treya Lynch, Student Support Coach

Highlights of the MSDS Class of 2021

• Inspired new initiatives such as forums and weekly office hours with the Program Director 

• Shared resources on LinkedIn Learning, essential math for machine learning, python, coding for Jupyter, Coursera workshops, #MSDSBookmarks, cohort GitHub cheat sheets, and Hackathon zip drives
• Supported cohort's well-being by staying active and healthy while working during a tight schedule
• Served on the Online MSDS Student Council where they represented their cohort as administrative chairs and student ambassadors liaisons

We wish them the best as they embark on their next adventure, whether that is exciting new positions within their company or opportunities elsewhere. On behalf of the School of Data Science, we congratulate our graduates and look forward to keeping in touch with you as alumni.

Class Speaker Paul Hicks

This year’s class speaker is Paul Hicks, who is graduating as a Double Hoo. Hicks attended UVA as an undergraduate student, where he studied Nuclear Engineering. After graduating, Hicks served in the U.S. Army for 20 years. He also earned his Master's degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Maryland. Hicks has had an impressive career working for the National Security Agency as a Senior Intelligence Officer and for the past five years, Hicks has worked as the Deputy Director at the Department of Energy. Hicks is excited to see how he can apply data science to his job and noted it has already been extremely helpful at work. 

Hicks has been an active, integral member of his cohort. He has taken leadership roles on Student Council as a Student Ambassador Liaison, and he has fostered a strong community amongst his cohort as they take classes together, work on problem sets, and help each other through the material. On top of this, Hicks is a father of four children, one of which is also studying at UVA. "We have a great group in our cohort, and I am so excited for everyone and their futures," Hicks said. "Go hoos!"

Wood Family Outstanding Student in Data Science Awards

The Wood Family Awards are made possible by a generous endowment from the Wood family. Oscar Wood is a founding and active member of the School of Data Science's Data Science Board. Dedicated to the future of data science and educating future data scientists, Wood encourages graduates to "use their skills to contribute and impact initiatives for the greater good. It can be immensely rewarding and personally satisfying.”

Because of this belief in the future of data science, the Wood family chose to establish an endowment to fund awards recognizing student excellence in the field. Awards are given to one student from each graduating class who has demonstrated overall excellence in academic performance. Nominations are submitted by and voted on by M.S. in Data Science faculty. Recipients must display outstanding work ethic, dedication to the field, and be excellent collaborators. They must also demonstrate outstanding service to the School of Data Science, University, and broader data science communities.

The Wood Family Outstanding Student in Data Science award for the Online M.S. in Data Science Class of 2021 goes to Samantha Parsons. Read more about Samantha here.