School of Data Science Celebrates Graduate Teaching Stars

The life of a graduate student is defined by many things — deadlines, research, assignments, lab meetings, and professional networking at conferences, to name just a few. Days can be long, and free time can be scarce.

Yet, for some, being in graduate school is also about something else: enhancing the experience of fellow students through work as graduate teaching assistants and classroom instructors.  

The University of Virginia’s School of Data Science recently recognized two graduate students who exemplify this mission — Navya Annapareddy and Harsh Anand — by nominating them for 2023-24 UVA graduate teaching awards. Sponsored by the provost’s office and UVA’s Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, awards are scheduled to be announced by early April.

Navya Annapareddy: 'Rising star' in data science

Annapareddy is making the most of her time on Grounds. Already a double Hoo — she received a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering in 2021 and a master’s in data science in 2022 — she is on track to become a triple Hoo in 2025 after completing a Ph.D. in data science.  

In August 2023 she received a $12,000 award from a Federal Aviation Administration-sponsored program to pursue her research on ergonomic risk analysis for baggage handling. She is also a member of The Raven Society, the most prestigious honor society at UVA. 

Her faculty adviser, Stephen Baek, wrote in her nomination letter: “Navya is a rising star in data science, filled with tremendous passion and intellectual curiosity."  

She has also had numerous teaching assignments during her time at UVA. Don Brown, senior associate dean of research for the School of Data Science and the Quantitative Foundation Distinguished Professor at the School, observed Annapareddy’s skill at not only practicing data science but at explaining it to students in fall 2023.  

Annapareddy, he said, “consistently demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm, dedication, and effectiveness” during her time as a graduate teaching assistant for DS 6040, Bayesian Machine Learning, a class that includes students from a wide range of backgrounds — a potential challenge for instructors, given the depth of mathematical knowledge needed for some of the coursework.

To ensure that all her students were set up to succeed, Brown said that Annapareddy held frequent meetings and organized additional coaching sessions ahead of exams. Through it all, Brown noted, Annapareddy demonstrated an ability to convey complex concepts in an understandable fashion.  

In a statement outlining her classroom philosophy, Annapareddy reflected on how she views her role as a teacher.

“Never once have I believed teaching is simply about transmitting knowledge,” she wrote. “It is not. Teaching is about connecting knowledge between people, experiences, and the world.”

Harsh Anand: Building an 'inclusive' classroom environment

Anand arrived at UVA in May 2021 as a systems engineering doctoral candidate with the School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Co-advised by Negin Alemazkoor and Majid Shafiee-Jood, assistant professors of systems and civil engineering, Anand utilizes data science and operations research concepts to solve emergency management, smart cities, and infrastructure resilience problems.

A recipient of the Olsen Graduate Fellowship and International Student Citizen Leaders Fellowship, Anand is also a member of The Raven Society and has been active as an advocate for fellow students, including through serving as president of the Graduate Engineering Student Council.

Anand has also distinguished himself as an instructor by connecting with students through a blend of empathy, insight, and encouragement. He quickly became one of the more popular graduate teaching assistants requested by the School of Data Science faculty. 

Peter Alonzi, an assistant professor of data science, has witnessed firsthand the impact Anand can have on students.

In a letter supporting his nomination, Alonzi shared his observations from Anand’s time as a co-instructor for the capstone course in the data science undergraduate program during fall 2023. 

The course, which requires students to work together on projects for the entire semester, is a months-long exercise in teamwork. Alonzi recounted how Anand noticed that one group was at serious risk of splintering and quickly intervened, meeting with the students individually and then as a group to address their differences openly and honestly.

“He empowered everyone to speak but in a way that was respectful and constructive,” wrote Alonzi. The group was able to move forward from that moment and successfully complete their course requirements. 

In his statement on classroom philosophy, Anand laid out his teaching and assessment goals, as well as how he approaches difficult situations such as this.

“I navigated undergraduate students through multiple team conflicts emerging due to group dynamics by creating a safe, inclusive space for open communication, guiding them to understand diverse perspectives, which effectively resolved disputes and reinforced a stronger sense of belonging and empowerment,” he wrote. 

Anand is scheduled to complete his doctorate this summer.