A YEAR IN REVIEW THE MAGAZINE OF THE SCHOOL OF DATA SCIENCE
OUR MISSION
TO INSPIRE AND PREPARE a generation of diverse data scientists who can make our world more equitable, informed and secure.
THE DIRECTOR A MESSAGE FROM
DEAR READERS,
If one is fortunate in their career, it provides the opportunity to create something enduring that will benefit others for years to come. I am fortunate. In 2023, I had the privilege of joining other UTSA leaders, faculty, and staff in opening the School of Data Science, housed in its new home at San Pedro I. In our relentlessly increasing data- and AI-driven world, the impact of the School of Data Science is bound to endure.
San Pedro I stands six stories tall in the urban core of downtown San Antonio and exemplifies our commitment to innovation and excellence. However, it is the education and research unfolding within these walls that will leave an indelible mark on the future. Moreover, our students are the driving force for that future. They will extend the school’s reach into diverse corners of academia, government and industry.
I invite you to explore the stories, achievements, and milestones captured in this magazine. It is a testament to our collective dedication to shaping a future where data science and AI play pivotal roles in creating positive change.
Sincerely,
DAVID MONGEAU Founding Director, School of Data Science Professor of Practice, University College
THIS SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION among higher education, government and industry is essential to meeting our state’s growing workforce demands, particularly in fields such as cybersecurity and IT.
JAMES B. MILLIKEN Chancellor of The University of Texas System
UTSA HOSTS GRAND OPENING OF SAN PEDRO I
In January 2023, UTSA unveiled San Pedro I, the new home of the School of Data Science and the first project in UTSA’s 10-year plan to accelerate the development of its Downtown Campus. The $91.8 million facility also houses the university’s National Security Collaboration Center and furthers UTSA’s mission of serving San Antonio and supporting the city’s future development.
WHAT IS DATA SCIENCE?
Data science is the process of collecting, organizing, and analyzing data to gain new knowledge or insight, and is already used in a wide variety of industries, including sales, marketing, medicine, construction, and even city planning.
DATA SCIENCE TOUCHES ON EVERYTHING, so it’s easy for students to carry on with what they’re doing while adding on a new skillset in data science.
KEVIN DESAI
UTSA Assistant Professor of Computer Science | SDS Core Faculty
Because data science uses tools like statistics, computer programming, and artificial intelligence it’s easy to conflate it with computer science or even cybersecurity, but the role of data science isn’t limited to tech-heavy fields.
SAN PEDRO I OPENS ITS DOORS FOR EIGHTH ANNUAL ROWDYHACKS
One of the first events hosted in San Pedro I was the eighth annual RowdyHacks hackathon. In March 2023, over 500 students from around Texas converged on SPI for 24 hours to participate in the competition, sponsored by the Association for Computing Machinery at UTSA. RowdyHacks allowed students interested in fields like coding and programming to come together to learn, collaborate and compete, regardless of their experience level.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW ANYTHING; you don’t spend anything because it’s free and you can come and learn all these different things.
QUYNH (QUINCY) NGUYEN RowdyHacks Director | Junior, Computer Science
The School of Data Science’s own Jenelle Millison was featured on the Amazon Prime Video series “The College Tour.” Millison, a computer science student who graduated in May, says she was originally drawn to UTSA for its reputation in cybersecurity. Soon she was delighted to find a deep sense of fellowship and community within the School of Data Science.
JENELLE MILLISON’S
“COLLEGE TOUR”
DIVE IN. SAY ‘YES’ TO THINGS. If you go after every opportunity that you’re given, you’ll find your people and you’ll find these other women that you can rely on and then pass it forward in the future.
As a leading member of many student organizations, Millison says she was honored to help highlight UTSA and the School of Data Science by featuring on “The College Tour.” https://future.utsa.edu/collegetour/jenelle/
CREATING A MORE EQUITABLE WORLD THROUGH DATA SCIENCE
The School of Data Science hosted its inaugural Los Datos Conference, centering on the theme of data science for a more equitable, informed, and secure world.
Los Datos brought together many notable figures in the fields of data science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, while also enhancing data science collaboration within UTSA.
I WANT LOS DATOS TO BECOME A DESTINATION for all of those engaged in the digital economy who recognize that equitable, informed and secure data science matters.
DAVID MONGEAU SDS Founding Director
GRAHAM WESTON INTERVIEW WITH
In 2018, UTSA received a $15 million gift from Graham Weston to support the School of Data Science.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT DATA SCIENCE THAT YOU BELIEVE WILL SO PROFOUNDLY IMPACT THE INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY?
Data science will prove to be, or already is, one of the fastest growing tech sectors. Demand for skilled data scientists will vastly exceed supply for years to come. We are working on the supply side. AI will change everyone’s lives – we believe mostly for the better with the right regulatory guardrails –as profoundly, just as other technological advances have changed everyone’s lives – the internet, smart phones, high-speed broadband.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO INVEST IN DATA SCIENCE AND DATA SCIENCE EDUCATION IN PARTICULAR?
An important focus of mine that dates to the era of Mayor Julían Castro and his SA2020 initiative has been building a better downtown and making the city our kids want to call home and that serves as a talent magnet for attracting others to live and work here.
FROM WHOM OR WHAT DO YOU DERIVE INSPIRATION IN YOUR PERSONAL AND/OR PROFESSIONAL LIFE?
I’ve met so many inspiring, brilliant, and talented people in the course of my own career in real estate development and in tech, and I come from a family with deep roots in England/Great Britain, Canada, and now Texas. Knowing and appreciating their past accomplishments inspires me to accomplish more in my own time.
My gift to UTSA helped accelerate Pres. Taylor Eighmy’s ambitious plans to expand the Downtown Campus, and it created from the ground up a data science school unlike anything any other Texas university offers.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES, GOALS, AND/OR PREDICTIONS FOR SAN ANTONIO AND THE SCHOOL OF DATA SCIENCE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?
I hope for and expect the School of Data Science to become a recognized national leader in the field under its highly recruited director David Mongeau. Five years from now everyone in Texas who is involved in tech, research and development, or higher ed will know all about UTSA’s School of Data Science.
MY ADVICE FOR STUDENTS IS TO PURSUE THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL PASSIONS. Take risks. Develop mentor relationships. And by all means, don’t live in an academic bubble.
GRAHAM WESTON Co-Founder and former Chairman of Rackspace | Chairman of Weston Urban
The first annual UTSA Draper Data Science Business Plan Competition selected four winning teams –three featuring UTSA students – to receive prizes totaling $75,000. The competition was made possible by a $1 million donation from third-generation venture capitalist and founder of Draper University Timothy Draper, and his wife, Melissa Parker Draper. It is unique for its focus on data science applications in entrepreneurship.
DRAPER DATA SCIENCE BUSINESS PLAN
COMPETITION
THERE ARE TONS AND TONS OF STUDENT COMPETITIONS out there, but there aren’t many that focus on data science technologies.
AMANDA MUKENGESHAYI BROWN SDS Manager of Strategic Initiatives
MURAL BY CRISTINA SOSA NORIEGA
ADDS TO VIBRANCY OF UTSA’S SAN PEDRO I
The first of two murals designed by San Antonio artists was installed on San Pedro I.
Created by San Antonio native, Cristina Sosa Noriega, the first mural depicts a young Mexican American girl blowing on a dandelion, the seeds of which transform into colors and dots representing data. The artwork symbolizes UTSA’s role as a Hispanic Serving Institution and its commitment to the San Antonio community.
I WANT PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS YOUNG GIRL CAN BE ANYTHING SHE WANTS: a data scientist, an artist, an engineer or anything in between.
CRISTINA SOSA NORIEGA, Artist
Artist and UTSA Alum, Mark D. Hogensen, M.F.A. ‘90 designed the second mural for the School of Data Science, which was installed in late July. The 58- by 10-foot mural entitled “Discovery Enterprise” wraps around the northeast corner of San Pedro I is intended to evoke both the physical structure of the building and the passage of time.
TILED MURAL BY MARK HOGENSEN
ADDS BOLD GEOMETRIC PATTERNS TO SAN PEDRO I
FOR ME, ART MAKING HAS BEEN AND IS ABOUT THE INTERPRETATION, alteration and reorganization of expected perceptions. Each of the elements that make up our surroundings seemingly beg for a re-assignment or new orchestration.
ALUMNUS MARK D. HOGENSEN, Artist, M.F.A. ’90
ACADEMIC DATA SCIENCE ALLIANCE
ADSA is an organization of data science practitioners, educators and leaders dedicated to supporting and advocating for professionals in the field.
The Academic Data Science Alliance (ADSA) successfully hosted its inaugural in-person Annual Meeting at San Pedro I. The conference featured three full days of parallel sessions covering topics from basic data science concepts to advanced biomedical analysis. Keynote speakers included internationally acclaimed artist and sculptor Sebastian, Chief Data Scientist of the United States Dr. Dominique DuvalDiop, and AI expert Dr. Besa Bauta.
BRINGING TOGETHER FOLKS that work on similar data types but in very different domains is how we can really accelerate innovation.
MICAELA PARKER
ADSA
Founder and Executive Director
Hundreds of students from Texas and beyond gathered at the UTSA School of Data Science for an exciting weekend of competition at the Rowdy Datathon at San Pedro I. Organized by the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) at UTSA
in collaboration with the National Security Agency, the datathon
provided a platform for students to engage in a weekend-long exploration of data science.
SCHOOL OF DATA SCIENCE HOSTS SECOND ANNUAL ROWDY DATATHON
THE STUDENTS ARE WORKING WITH REAL-WORLD DATA
and they’re looking at real-world
problems
while learning really important
data
science skills that can translate into any field.
RONI MADDOX Rowdy Datathon Director | Senior, Environmental Science
FOUNDING DIRECTOR
David Mongeau
EDITOR
Rosalinda Montero
CONTRIBUTING WRITER AND EDITOR
Christopher Reichert
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Coral Diaz
STAFF
ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR
Melissa Platt
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Adel Alaeddini
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH
Paul Rad
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Jeanette Miller
MANAGER OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Amanda Brown
SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER
Lizet Casas
SENIOR PORGRAM MANAGER
Cynthia Rodriguez
SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Rosalinda Montero
COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
Kayla Martinez
SENIOR EVENTS MANAGER
Denise Villarreal
AV EQUIPMENT TECH II
Blas Vazquez
FACILITIES COORDINATOR II
Amir Ravassipour
STAFF WRITER
Christopher Reichert
Los Datos is a publication for faculty, students, staff, industry partners, and friends of the school and showcases achievements and significant milestones in data science education and research.
The School of Data Science 506 Dolorosa St. San Antonio, TX 78204
(210) 458-3282 sds.utsa.edu
SAN PEDRO I IS A POWERFUL DEMONSTRATION of the great collaboration that exists between UTSA, the City of San Antonio and Bexar County.
VERONICA SALAZAR Executive Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Enterprise Development Officer
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