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MSDS Online Program Student Ambassadors
Meet the Admissions Ambassadors of the M.S. in Data Science Online program. Feel free to email an ambassador directly with questions about the master's program or to schedule a time to speak with them by phone or Zoom. They are here to give you the student perspective and share their experiences.
Abner Casillas-Colon
(he/him)
Email Abner
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Hometown: Alexandria, VA
Undergraduate Institution: George Mason University
Major: B.S. in Business Analytics and Management Information Systems
Q: Do you have previous work experience?
I have worked as an associate for Kroll in Data Insights and Forensics for the last two years. Before that, I worked in accounting at a defense contractor for five years.
Q: What has been your favorite class in the program so far?
My favorite class so far has been DS 6001L Practice and Application of Data Science. It does an excellent job of setting the foundation for how to perform very important data wrangling and cleaning tasks that are necessary for anyone who is working in data science and analysis.
Q: What are your research/career interests?
While I apply data science to many things my greatest focus is applying data science to meaningful public policy problems such as housing shortages to assist in researching ways to solve major problems.
Q: What made you choose UVA for your MSDS?
I chose UVA as I wanted the flexibility of an online program with the hands-on instruction of an in-person program.
Q: What is a fun fact about you?
I am an avid motorcyclist and used to work in e-sports.
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Nicholas V. Cagliuso, Jr.
(he/him)
Email Nick
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Hometown: New York, NY
Undergraduate Institution: Northeastern University
Major: Business Administration and Economics, Concentration in Management
Q: Do you have previous work experience? I worked as a Data Analyst Co-op at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. I also worked as a Player Development Associate and Video Operations Associate with the New York Mets across two baseball seasons.
Q: What has been your favorite class in the program so far? My favorite class in the program has been Exploratory Text Analytics, which I am taking as an elective in my fourth semester. As someone with previous education in the liberal arts and social sciences, I love learning about using quantitative data science techniques to analyze textual works to help make inferences about society – what’s known as the “digital humanities.”
Q: What are your research/career interests? I am interested in applying both my skills in this MSDS program and my previous education experience in management and economics to a role on the business/operations side of the automotive industry.
Q: What made you choose UVA for your MSDS? I chose UVA for my MSDS because of the school’s clear experience and expertise in data science despite the relative newness of the field. The fact that UVA has offered an MSDS for a decade and that they have devoted the university’s 12th-ever school exclusively to data science shows the commitment to being at the forefront of the discipline.
Q: What is a fun fact about you? I am an avid motorsport fan who has been fortunate enough to attend NASCAR, Formula E, and Formula 1 races in the past. Attending some of the biggest events in motorsport, like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is at the top of my bucket list!
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Becky Desrosiers (she/her)
Email Becky
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Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Undergraduate Institution: Averett University
Major: BS in Equestrian Studies: Business Management
Q: Do you have previous work experience? I don’t have any work experience in Data Science. In undergrad, I worked for the barn where I learned to ride and take care of horses. Working with horses is a good experience for any job, in my opinion. I currently work part-time as an office assistant.
Q: What has been your favorite class in the program so far? My favorite class so far has been DS 6001: Practice and Application of Data Science. I learned a bunch of things that I was able to use to help streamline some mundane daily tasks at my job, and I felt so cool doing it!
Q: What are your research/career interests? This program is helping me figure out what I want to do. At this point, I’m interested in contributing to open-source solutions.
Q: What made you choose UVA for your MSDS? I went to UVA for 2 years and finished my undergrad at Averett, but I loved UVA for the community and class rigor.
Q: What is a fun fact about you? I play the trumpet.
Suraj Kunthu (he/him)
Email Suraj
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Hometown: Centreville, VA
Undergrad institution: Virginia Commonwealth University
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Q: Do you have previous work experience?
I worked as a production engineer at DuPont Teijin Films for three years and now I work as a Software Engineer at Capital One.
Q: What has been your favorite class in the program so far?:
I’m looking forward to taking Deep Learning in the fourth semester.
Q: What are your research/career interests?
I’m interested in machine learning and building artificial neural networks. I’m also interested in how we can better utilize data science tools in organizations to change for the better.
Q: What made you choose UVA for your master's in data science?
I chose UVA because of its curriculum, focus on teamwork, and emphasis on data ethics. Also, it’s the nation’s first School of Data Science!
Q: What is a fun fact about you?
I can't whistle but I love to try!
Abigail Snyder
(she/her)
Email Abigail
Connect on LinkedIn
Hometown: Roanoke, VA
Undergrad institution: Liberty University
Major: Secondary Education
Q: Do you have previous work experience?
Ten years teaching middle and high school English in the international, public, and private educational spaces.
Q: What has been your favorite class in the program so far? I am actually most excited about one of the last classes in the course, SARC 5400: Data Visualization, because I love the idea of taking data and communicating it using eye-catching images.
Q: What are your research/career interests?
I'm a little undecided, but I am interested in both education equity advocacy and sports tech.
Q: What made you choose UVA for your master's in data science?
I learned that there was a collaborative effort between the school of education and the data science department to use data in the field of education and thought that sounded extremely interesting!
Q: What is a fun fact about you?
I race mountain bikes at the elite level, but hate mud (and all things creepy-crawly)!
