Health worker and UVA alum pursues the online Master of Science in Data Science to get a handle on the numbers
Meet Brooke Williams, online student at UVA’s School of Data Science. Williams grew up in Roanoke, Virginia and earned her bachelor’s from UVA where she was a double major in Computer Science and Cognitive Science. After graduation, Williams took a job at Sentara Healthcare, a Biotech start-up in Norfolk, VA, where she did database management for clinical trials. Two years later, Williams returned to UVA to work in the Infectious Disease Clinic where she has been exposed to a variety of cutting-edge research projects that feel more relevant now than ever. Last fall, Williams enrolled in UVA’s online MSDS program to add to her already robust set of skills.
As a healthcare professional, what drew you back to data science?
I love healthcare and the healthcare theme applied to data because it’s so practical. And, like all a lot of data sciences, it’s very useful and can do a lot of good.
How has the online aspect of the program been thus far?
It’s very convenient. It’s also nice that the professors and instructors are so great about being flexible. They know we’re all working in jobs and have other obligations as well. So that component has been a real plus. I don’t think I’ve ever taken an online class before this, but we use Zoom for all the classes and that’s been super easy, thanks, in part to the breakout function and the breakout rooms.
Tell me more about the class structure. What’s a breakout room?
We meet online once a week. And it is by Zoom, so we all start in one big Zoom meeting. Then, the instructor has the capability to break people up into ‘breakout rooms. Basically you and a few classmates break off and meet in your own mini Zoom meeting. And we do that for little discussions in class and for group projects, which has been a great way to get to know my classmates.
How would you describe the sense of community within the online MSDS program?
At first, I was pretty skeptical of the ability for an online program to build a real sense of community, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised. We have a success coach who is really great. Part of her goal is to facilitate a community, so we have a Data Science Slack channel and there are Slack channels for Women in Data Science at UVA. Then there’s one for your individual cohort as well as for each class. Features like that have done a great job of facilitating simple interactions, like asking a classmate a question about a homework or a concept, exchanges that would happen organically, in-person, at a traditional program that’s not online. On the whole, I would say the sense of community has definitely exceeded my expectations.
What are some of the highlights of the program?
One aspect of the program that has really stuck out to me is the content. In some past educational settings, the content has been good but the assignments don’t really reinforce what you’re learning. Here, the assignments and the content are really well-paired. Everything in the data science program so far seems very purposeful and works to reinforce the concepts we’re learning. It’s been fun to see the connections between the content and what I do in my normal job, and how to improve what I do in my normal job or add to it.
Just as it has done for Brooke, an online M.S. in Data Science can help you become more of an asset in your current role and contribute more meaningfully. It can also enable you to pivot your career and professional trajectory. If you’re thinking about earning an M.S. in Data Science, apply here today.