Virginia Tech’s Academy of Data Science has entered a new phase of development with changes in leadership and the introduction of a graduate program.
The academy, based in the College of Science, was founded in 2019 to support research and teaching in data science, computational modeling, and analytics.
Eric de Sturler, a mathematics professor and former department chair, has been appointed director of the academy following the retirement of founding director Tom Woteki. De Sturler brings research expertise in computational numerical analysis and applied mathematics, with a focus on interdisciplinary problem-solving.
Kevin Pitts, Dean of the College of Science, says, “These leadership changes reflect our ambitious plans for the Academy of Data Science. Employers around the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation are yearning for more hands-on data scientists, and these programs will fill those needs.”
New master’s degree targets growing demand
The academy will now oversee a new Master of Science in data science, developed in response to the rising need for professionals capable of managing and interpreting large-scale data. Jennifer Van Mullekom, professor of practice in the Department of Statistics, has been named associate director of the academy and will serve as program director for the new degree.
Previously, Van Mullekom led Virginia Tech’s Statistical Applications and Innovation Group. In her new role, she is responsible for shaping the structure and delivery of the graduate program, which is launching as a 4+1 accelerated degree. The format enables Virginia Tech undergraduates to begin graduate-level coursework during their senior year and complete the master’s degree in one additional year.
The curriculum is designed to train students in designing, organizing, and executing data science projects that respond to complex, data-driven questions.
Expansion plans include greater Washington, D.C.
Alongside managing the new program in Blacksburg, Van Mullekom has been asked to create a plan for offering the degree in the greater Washington, D.C., area. The proposed expansion is intended to broaden the reach of the academy and serve a more diverse pool of potential graduate students.
Lizette Zietsman, a mathematics professor, has been named interim director of the computational modeling and data analytics (CMDA) program. Zietsman previously served as associate director of both the CMDA program and the academy itself. She replaces Mark Embree, who played a key role in launching Virginia Tech’s undergraduate data science curriculum in 2015.
Eric de Sturler says, “It’s inspiring to work with colleagues and students who are deeply engaged in building data-driven solutions. I’m looking forward to helping strengthen the research foundations of the Academy of Data Science and expanding opportunities for collaboration across disciplines.”
