Datapalooza 2024: Inspiring the Next Generation of Data Leaders

For all students, data enthusiasts, and future innovators, Datapalooza is your chance to expand your knowledge, level up your skills, and connect with experts as they share their insights on how data is helping to shape our future.

Hosted annually by the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science, Datapalooza brings together students, faculty, industry pros, and data lovers from across Grounds and beyond. What started in 2015 as a research expo has evolved into a dynamic, hands-on event where anyone can join the data science conversation.

Join us for an engaging afternoon where you will learn from the best, boost your skills, and network with leading data science professionals.

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Agenda

10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m.

Data Science Building Tours | 1st Floor Lobby

11:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

Data Science Admissions Open Houses 

• Ph.D. in Data Science, Seminar Room 101
• M.S. in Data Science, Online and Residential, Classroom 305
• B.S. in Data Science and Minor in Data Science, Corporate Commons 

11:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Corporate Connections | 1st Floor Gallery

Engage with representatives from CoStar Group, DataShapes AI, LMI, NobleReach Foundation, and Sports Analytics Club. 

Professional Headshots | 1st Floor Student Affairs & Admissions Suite

12:00-12:45 p.m.

Registration and Casual Networking Lunch | 1st Floor Lobby

1:00-1:15 p.m.

Welcome | Capital One Hub

1:15-2:15 p.m.

Data, Business, and The Real World: Insiders on How AI Became A Thing  | Capital One Hub

Join our keynote conversation on the evolution of data science and artificial intelligence in the business world, featuring industry insiders who have witnessed—and shaped—the rise of AI firsthand. This discussion will dive into the journey of data science from a niche discipline to a transformative force across industries.

Featured Speakers:

• Miriam Friedel, VP, ML Engineering, Capital One 
• Don Vu, SVP, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, New York Life
• Mona Sloane, Assistant Professor of Data Science and Media Studies (moderator)

2:15-2:30 p.m.

Break 

2:30-3:15 p.m.

Breakout Sessions | Capital One Hub, Corporate Commons, Classrooms 205, 206, 305

• Beyond Numbers: Effective Data Communication in Sports (Capital One Hub)
  
  Explore the crucial role of data communication in sports during this engaging talk led by Assistant Professor of Data Science Natalie Kupperman. In the fast-paced world of sports, effectively conveying data insights—whether through written reports, conversations, or visualizations—is key to driving performance, strategic decisions, and team cohesion. Through a dynamic multimedia presentation with interactive examples, participants will gain insights into the skills and strategies needed to communicate data with clarity and impact. Join us to understand how effective communication amplifies the value of sports data and empowers diverse audiences, from fans to athletes to analysts.  

• 2024-25 LMI-UVA Data Entrepreneurship Challenge Launch: 
  Advancing Progress toward Social Justice Solutions (Classroom 205)
  
  To launch this year’s LMI-UVA Data Entrepreneurship Challenge on ‘Advancing Progress toward Social Justice Solutions’, a panel of experts from the federal government and local nonprofit organizations will discuss the social justice challenges they face in their respective fields and share ideas on potential digital solutions that could drive positive change.  

  The LMI team will then share more details and launch this year’s Challenge where teams of UVA students can work together across the academic year to develop data-driven solutions that address one of the challenges highlighted in the panel discussion or any social justice-themed issue of their choice. The Challenge will culminate in the Spring with each team presenting their solution to a panel of industry experts representing government, industry, venture capital, and UVA. Winning teams will not only receive cash prizes but also gain access to free entrepreneurial coaching from industry experts to help further develop their solutions.

  Featured Speakers:

  • Jeremey Alcorn, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, General Services Administration
  • Kim Barnette, Board Member, DC Action; Fellow, LMI Consulting
  • Alex Bryant, Executive Director, FIRST Chesapeake
  • Brant Horio, VP for Applied Research and Partnerships, LMI (moderator)
  • Shelly Stoddard, Director of FTC, FIRST Chesapeake  
• Building the US Federal AI Procurement Index: 
  Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Government AI Procurement (Classroom 206)
  
  Roya Pakzad, a Data & Democracy Practitioner Fellow at UVA’s Karsh Institute of Democracy and School of Data Science, will discuss her work on the “US Federal Agencies Responsible AI Procurement Index.” She will outline her process of collecting and analyzing both structured and unstructured data, including procurement records and government guidelines, to assess transparency, accountability, and commitment to responsible AI procurement. The project provides a comprehensive index to support improved public engagement, oversight, and contracting practices in AI procurement.
  
  This session is co-sponsored by The Karsh Institute for Democracy. 

• Skills Workshop: Learn Generative AI with AWS PartyRock (Classroom 305)
  
  AWS PartyRock is a space for building AI-generated apps in a playground powered by Amazon Bedrock. It’s a fast and fun way to learn about generative AI. PartyRock uses foundation models from Amazon Bedrock to turn an idea into a working application. Join us for this workshop and learn how to get the most out of the PartyRock experience by:

  • Creating an app using prompts, and learning how to navigate PartyRock’s sandbox environment.
  • Extend an app by editing UI elements called widgets. Change widget prompts so that they connect to each other to accomplish different things.
  • Taking the next steps and publishing a PartyRock app to share with fellow students and colleagues.  

  PartyRock does not require any prior experience with generative AI and is easily accessible from a web browser. Facilitated by Curtis Evans. 

  Technology: Attendees should bring a fully-charged laptop to access PartyRock. The tool is supported in multiple browsers but Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are recommended. The service is free and requires one of the following three sign-in options: A Google (Gmail) account, an Apple account, or an Amazon account.

• Skills Workshop: Getting Started with the NFL Big Data Bowl 2025 Kaggle Competition: A Hands-On Introduction (Corporate Commons)

  Join School of Data Science alumni career mentors, Maureen O’Shea and Austin Rivera, for an interactive, beginner-friendly workshop that dives into the NFL Big Data Bowl 2025 on Kaggle. This session is designed to introduce attendees to the fundamentals of Kaggle competitions, including setting up a profile, navigating competition rules, understanding datasets, and implementing your first machine-learning models. 

  Austin and Maureen will cover practical tips for analyzing data and engineering features, all with a focus on tackling the NFL Big Data Bowl. Whether you're looking to boost your data science skills or just curious about the competitive side of Kaggle competitions, this workshop will provide a supportive environment to help you get started. This session is for Data science students, aspiring data scientists, and anyone interested in hands-on experience with Kaggle competitions. 

  Bring your fully charged laptop, and let’s dive into the challenge together!

3:15-3:30 p.m.

Break

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Pathways to Data Science: Charting Your Course in a Data-Driven World | Capital One Hub

Curious about how to break into the world of data science? This panel is your chance to hear directly from a diverse group of data scientists from a range of backgrounds who have forged their own unique paths in this fast-growing field and are making an impact across industries. Whether you’re just starting out or already studying data science, you’ll walk away with practical advice on building your skills, finding opportunities, and gaining the inspiration to chart your own course in this exciting, data-driven world.

• Madelyn Mathai, first-year Ph.D. in Data Science student
• Lyndsey Padden, VP, Data Science AI Enablement, 84.51˚ 
• Ana Sharma, Data Scientist, C3 AI
• Adam Tashman, Associate Professor, UVA School of Data Science (moderator)
• Christian Wernz, Lead Data Scientist, Sentara Health; Lecturer, UVA School of Data Science 

4:30-4:45 p.m.

Closing  | Capital One Hub

4:45-5:30 p.m.

Networking Reception | 1st Floor Lobby

Speaker Bios

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Jeremey Alcorn

Jeremey Alcorn is a certified energy manager and currently serves as a Deputy Assistant Commission for Facilities Management (Programs) in the Public Buildings Service, U.S. General Services Administration. He has over 20 years’ experience in facility operations, energy, and water management; high performance buildings; renewable energy; greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation; risk management and resilience; and sustainability. He has authored publications on energy efficiency and renewable energy, alternative fuel sustainability, sustainable security and fragile states, and implications of climate change on U.S. access to space. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Political Science from Allegheny College and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University.

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Kim Barnette

Dr. Kim W. Barnette is a Fellow at LMI Consulting. She is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP®) and subject matter expert on LMI’s team at NASA, implementing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives within their Science Mission Directorate (SMD). As an LMI Fellow in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cohorts, Kim supports LMI's Applied Research and Partnerships, developing formal working relationships with universities, applied research labs, service academies, and academic experts across the country to partner on research projects in support of LMI’s government clients. 

Kim received her Ph.D. in operations research in 2000 from North Carolina State University, her master’s in applied mathematics in 1994 from Clark Atlanta University, and her bachelor’s in mathematics in 1992 from Spelman College. She is a member of the Board of Directors for DC Action, an organization focused on making the District of Columbia a place where all young people grow up safe and resilient. As a Board member, she advises DC Action’s Research and Data Manager on innovative approaches for analyzing data regarding school-based mental health, youth homelessness, early care and education, and policing.  

Connect with Dr. Kim Barnette on LinkedIn!

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Alex Bryant

Bryant is the Executive Director of FIRST Chesapeake, where he inspires young tech enthusiasts and shapes future leaders in STEM. Under his leadership, FIRST Chesapeake has cultivated an environment that merges creativity with innovation, fostering skills beyond the technical—such as leadership, teamwork, and strategic thinking. His vision is to prepare young minds for success in a tech-driven global economy.

Bryant’s leadership is marked by his strategic expertise in communication and staff empowerment, which directly supports the growth and impact of FIRST Chesapeake’s programs. Rising from Director of Programs to Executive Director, he has dedicated his career to creating inclusive, engaging experiences that encourage exploration and excellence in STEM. Through these efforts, he empowers the next generation to pursue STEM-related academic and career paths.

A graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in Music and a minor in Biology, Bryant is also passionate about public spaces and advancing inclusion initiatives. While serving as Executive Director of Ix Art Park, he led efforts to enhance representation and diversity within the organization.

Growing up near Richmond, Bryant has a deep love for festivals, recalling fondly the many events he attended in his youth. Since moving to Charlottesville, he has been actively involved in numerous local festivals, including the Heritage Harvest Festival, Tom Tom Festival, Positive Culture Festival, Soul of Cville Festival, Charlottesville Art Festival, Psychedelic Art Festival, and Charlottesville Renaissance Festival. Beyond his work, Bryant volunteers web design services to entrepreneurs and nonprofits and serves as secretary for the African American Teaching Fellows and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge.

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Curtis Evans

Curtis Evans is a Principal Academic Advocate at AWS. For the past few years, he has helped students develop cloud skills in security, storage, DevOps, generative AI, and other cloud computing services. Since joining AWS in 2016, he has been active with building and deploying digital solutions for customers across several industries including manufacturing and media & entertainment. Curtis has always been passionate about cultivating STEM education. He has participated in learning projects through the Amazon Future Engineer program, and produced a beginner’s generative AI course for Coursera — a global platform that serves millions through its catalog of online course offerings.

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Miriam Friedel

Miriam Friedel is a Vice President of Machine Learning Engineering at Capital One, where she leads a team of engineers building tools to solve ML and AI problems across the enterprise. Sitting at the intersection of statistical rigor and engineering at scale, her team has helped bridge the gap between experimentation and production on some of Capital One’s most critical problems. Prior to her current role, she was Head of Data Science at Skafos, an eCommerce start-up, and Director and Senior Scientist at Elder Research, where she served clients across a variety of industries. Miriam has spent over fifteen years in scientific and technical fields spanning theoretical physics, software engineering, transportation, neuroscience, management consulting, and machine learning. Her unique background enables her to lead with empathy, create cohesion, and remove blockers in cross-functional, high impact initiatives. Miriam received her ScB in Physics from Brown University and her PhD in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is a co-author on more than fifteen peer-reviewed articles.

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Brant Horio

Brant Horio leads LMI’s strategic research group, where he integrates resources, technologies, and partnerships with applied research to drive LMI’s innovation initiatives. Managing a dynamic research portfolio in close collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders, his work focuses on generating evidence-based insights and strategies to address critical unknowns and bridge capability gaps. His efforts help shape strategic investments and effectively steer LMI’s innovation mission for maximum impact. Brant holds a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from Virginia Tech, a master’s in operations research from George Mason University, and a Ph.D. in computational social science from George Mason University.

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Natalie Kupperman

Natalie Kupperman is an Assistant Professor of Data Science and an applied sports science researcher and certified athletic trainer. She studies the use of biometrics, wearables, and other athlete monitoring methods to reduce injury risk and optimize athletic performance. She is currently an assistant professor in the School of Data Science at the University of Virginia. Before that Kupperman was a Ph.D. student in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Virginia where she did research in the Exercise and Sport Injury Lab and athletics with the men’s basketball team and women’s volleyball team. Before her doctoral studies, she spent seven years at Northwestern University working clinically as an athletic trainer in Athletics and the University Health Service. Kupperman’s research interests include data infrastructure and pipelines for collaboration in athlete monitoring, dynamic models of injury risk and athlete readiness, and creating seamless monitoring environments for sports teams. Kupperman holds a Ph.D. in Education-Kinesiology/Sports Medicine and an M.Ed. in Athletic Training from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Athletic Training from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

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Madelyn Mathai 

Madelyn Mathai is a first-year Ph.D. student at the School of Data Science. She is currently completing coursework and serves as a GTA for the Introduction to Data Science undergraduate class. In the summer, she will join Dr. Chirag Agarwal at Aikyam Lab, focusing on multi-modal AI research. While XAI (explainable artificial intelligence) has shown some promise in classification models in unimodal settings, there is little to no work on developing new methods and metrics that could explain more complex generative models. Her project will strive to develop new data/feature attribution techniques that can explain the behavior of multi-modal generative models, improving their reliability and employment to high-stakes applications like healthcare and finance.

Before joining the School of Data Science, Madelyn was a data analyst at Ubisoft where she worked on the development of a first-person shooter game. She worked with server engineers, level designers, artists, and monetization specialists to provide data visualizations on a number of aspects of the game. She also worked on the in-game store recommendation system and evaluated the matchmaking algorithm.

Madelyn holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania with minors in Mathematics, Survey Research & Data Analytics. 

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Maureen O'Shea

Maureen O'Shea serves as an Alumni Career Mentor to the school’s Bachelor in Data Science students. Additionally, she works as a data consultant after earning a master’s degree from UVA’s School of Data Science in 2022. Before that she took a 30-year break from the business world to focus on her favorite job: being a mom to her six children. Earlier in her career she received a graduate degree in material sciences and engineering at the University and served in IBM’s failure analysis department.

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Lyndsey Padden

Lyndsey Padden serves as Vice President of Data Science for the Kroger Company’s 84.51°, where she leads data science talent across AI Enablement, Research & Development, and Data Platform initiatives, driving impactful innovation and strategic insight across the organization.

With a foundation in advanced analytics and a heart for interdisciplinary collaboration, Lyndsey brings over a decade of experience across various functions at 84.51°/Kroger and other leading organizations.  

A proud alumna of the University of Virginia, Lyndsey holds a degree in Psychology and Cognitive Science, followed by a Master’s in Commerce with a specialization in Marketing and Management.

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Roya Pakzad 

Roya Pakzad is the founder and director of Taraaz, a non-profit organization working at the intersection of technology and human rights. She is also the 2023-24 Practitioner Data and Democracy Fellow at the Karsh Institute of Democracy and the School of Data Science at the University of Virginia and an affiliated scholar at UC Berkeley’s CITRIS Policy Lab. Her work centers on researching human rights implications of digital technologies, corporate accountability, and human rights-centered design.

Previously, she served as a Research Associate and Project Leader in Technology and Human Rights at Stanford University’s Global Digital Policy Incubator (GDPi). She also worked with Stanford’s program in Iranian Studies on the role of information and communication technologies and human rights in Iran. Prior to entering the human rights field, Roya was an electrical engineer at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). She holds degrees from Shahid Beheshti University in Iran (B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering), the University of Southern California (M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering) and Columbia University (M.A. in Human Rights Studies).

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Austin Rivera

Austin Rivera is currently a Lead on the Data, Strategy, and Innovation team at Merck & Co., managing the US and Global data for pre- and post-launch Chronic Care products, which covers the Heart Failure, Hyperlipidemia, and Diabetes therapeutic areas. He obtained his M.S. in Data Science from UVA in August 2024, and previously held roles on the Strategy and Operations team at Oscar Health, as well as the Global Data Analytics team at Bloomberg LP. Before earning his Masters of Management from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, he graduated from the School of Engineering and Applied Science at UVA with a B.S. in Engineering Science (Nanomedicine Engineering track). Austin is driven by the desire to help others and plans to continue working across Pharma, Healthcare, and Education to maximize his reach. 

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Ana Sharma

Ana Sharma is a Data Scientist at C3 AI designing and developing AI/ML solutions that power enterprise-scale applications for C3’s federal customers. Focused primarily on applied research for generative AI applications, Ana works with cross-functional teams to define and implement new generative AI product capabilities that leverage cutting-edge research, such as enhancements for information retrieval in RAG frameworks, for C3 Enterprise Search. She previously worked at Expedia Group as a Machine Learning Scientist focused on developing bidding algorithms for metasearch marketing platforms.

A two-time graduate of the University of Virginia, Ana graduated in 2021 from the School of Engineering & Applied Science with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and a minor in applied mathematics and, in 2022, with a master’s degree in data science from the School of Data Science.

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Mona Sloane

Mona Sloane, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Data Science and Media Studies at the University of Virginia (UVA). As a sociologist, she studies the intersection of technology and society, specifically in the context of AI design, use, and policy. At UVA, she is a Faculty Lead in the Digital Technology and Democracy Lab at the Karsh Institute of Democracy, Affiliated Faculty with the Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality, and Faculty Affiliate with the Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment (TYDE) research initiative. She also convenes the Co-Opting AI series and serves as the editor of the Co-Opting AI book series at the University of California Press as well as the Technology Editor for Public Books. Mona’s growing research group Sloane Lab conducts empirical research on the implications of technology for the organization of social life. Its focus lies on AI as a social phenomenon that intersects with wider cultural, economic, material, and political conditions. The lab spearheads social science leadership in applied work on responsible AI, public scholarship, and technology policy. More can be found at monasloane.org

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Shelly Stoddard

Shelly Stoddard is an accomplished leader with a diverse background in education, program management, and donor relations. She currently serves as the Director of FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics, Women in STEM, and the FTC Mentor Development Program at FIRST Chesapeake, where she leads initiatives that inspire youth to develop STEM skills through hands-on robotics competitions and mentorship. Shelly is particularly focused on providing team support in Title I and rural school and community settings, ensuring students in underserved areas have access to meaningful STEM opportunities.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Florida, Shelly pursued advanced studies, earning two master’s degrees in Educational Leadership—one from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and another from Radford University. Her academic achievements are underscored by her expertise in curriculum development, talent development, and leadership. Shelly's leadership style focuses on breaking down complex problems into simple, actionable solutions, an approach she has applied across various roles throughout her career.

Throughout her career, Shelly has cultivated a reputation for delivering world-class service and building meaningful, long-term relationships with donors, clients, and colleagues. Her exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail have driven success in donor relations, community outreach, and large-scale program management. She is also recognized for her ability to create engaging presentations and professional development programs, helping others reach their full potential while advancing the mission of the organizations she serves.
 

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Adam Tashman

Adam Tashman, associate professor of data science and former director of the Online M.S. in Data Science Program, teaches courses such as big data systems, programming for data science, R programming, and actuarial statistics. His research interests include natural language processing, machine learning, computer vision, and quantitative finance.

Before joining the School of Data Science in 2021, Tashman was a Visiting Lecturer at UVA and Visiting Associate Professor at UC Santa Barbara. His industry experience includes roles as Director of Data Science and AI at CliniComp and VP of Data Science at Carpe Data and FinMason. He has also worked with Citizens Financial Group, Fresenius Medical Care, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Yahoo!, and Citi.

Tashman holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Stony Brook, an M.A. in Mathematics and Finance from Columbia, and a B.A. in Mathematics from UVA.

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Don Vu

Don Vu, Commerce ‘98 is Senior Vice President and Chief Data & Analytics Officer at New York Life. In his role, Don is responsible for driving the strategy and delivery of New York Life’s AI, data, and insights capabilities in support of its business strategy and objectives. Don is also an AI & Data advisor to ICONIQ, a venture and investment management firm in Silicon Valley.

Immediately before joining New York Life in October 2023, Don was Chief Data Officer at Northwestern Mutual, where he helped drive the company’s digital transformation and reset the company’s data & AI strategy. He also co-led the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute, a partnership between Northwestern Mutual, Marquette, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Prior to Northwestern Mutual, Don held senior data leadership positions at Major League Baseball, BAMTech (acquired by Disney) and WeWork.

Mr. Vu holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and is on the school’s AI Task Force and the Advisory Board for the Center for Business Analytics.

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Christian Wernz

Christian Wernz teaches Health Care Data Science in the MSDS Online program. In developing and teaching this course, Wernz brings together his current industry experience as a health care data scientist, with his prior educational and research experience as a university professor.

Wernz works as a Lead Data Scientist at Sentara Health and was previously a Senior Data Scientist at UVA Health. Prior to joining industry, Wernz was an associate professor in Health Care Administration at VCU and an assistant professor in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech.

Wernz is known for his pioneering research in multiscale decision theory and his contributions to health care systems, systems engineering, and enterprise systems. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and various foundations and industry partners, such as the Neiman Health Policy Institute, Rolls Royce, and Dell. In his current research, Wernz focuses on improving population health with innovative data science methodologies and applications. He also serves as an advisor to health AI start-up companies.

Wernz received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany, with stints at BMW and McKinsey. He was born and raised in Germany.