Data science offers countless opportunities to join in a technological revolution, and the School of Data Science stands at the forefront of this movement. 

Our students have access to a range of career resources, including one-on-one advising, workshops, and career events to build career development skills and connect with employers and alumni. The School of Data Science Career Services Team partners with students throughout their career journey, from networking to negotiation, so that they feel confident navigating resources and career opportunities. We believe in empowering students with the skills and insights needed not only to secure a job after school, but also to explore and grow professionally throughout the course of their career.

Graduate and undergraduate students also have access to an extensive alumni network of data scientists and other professionals. Our alumni work in government, non-profits, and across every industry, from startups to fortune 300 companies in finance, healthcare, insurance, technology, and beyond. 


Career Services Team


Reggie Leonard II  
Associate Director for Career Connections and Community Engagement 
reggieleonard@virginia.edu 

Reggie Leonard is a student and career development professional, with over a decade of experience in career services, and experiences ranging from career coaching/advising and program development, to employer relations, DEI, and community engagement. Reggie holds a B.A. in Psychology (proud HBCU grad) and an M.S. in Professional Counseling. He’s very involved in the local Charlottesville community, having served on and been invited to serve on several boards, conference planning committees, and post-graduate fellowships. Reggie co-organizes the Charlottesville Data Science Meetup (soon to return), tech events through the Tom Tom Foundation, data science events through RVA Tech, and more.

Outside of work, Reggie is a proud uncle who is passionate about civic engagement and community involvement. He is in a cookbook club, co-leads alumni engagement for Wine Unify, earned his first wine certification through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust at the beginning of 2021, works in a vineyard (farming during growing season) and at a wine tasting room, and can often be spotted at local restaurants and events all over town. Reggie believes that we haven’t lived in the best version of the world yet, which animates his desire to work with and support students’ career exploration and development, and to drive equity and excellence through diversity and inclusion.

Hannah Pede
Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development  
hff2vf@virginia.edu

Hannah is a passionate Career Counselor and Advisor with a particular interest in supporting students in STEM fields. Before joining the School of Data Science, she was the Career Counselor for Science & Technology at the Central UVA Career Center. Hannah supports students who are interested in careers that use technology to make an impact.

Previously, Hannah was an Academic Advisor for Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University. In this role, she worked with students in their second-year and beyond pursuing careers in the sciences and in pre-health and created and oversaw several programs to support their academic and career development.

Hannah received her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration at The College of William & Mary where she was the Graduate Assistant for International Programs. Her undergraduate degree is in Biology from Christopher Newport University with minors in Leadership Studies and Psychology. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, baking, running, and exploring the outdoors!

Education: M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration; The College of William & Mary | B.S. in Biology; Christopher Newport University