UVA President Jim Ryan expressed his excitement about the grand opening of the School of Data Science, acknowledging the contributions of past leaders and supporters who paved the way for its establishment. He specifically mentioned President Emerita Teresa A. Sullivan, whose vision and advocacy were instrumental in creating the Data Science Institute that serves as the foundation for the school. Ryan also recognized the efforts of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who played a crucial role in bringing the school to life.
Jaffray Woodriff, a UVA graduate from 1991, shared his journey of using early artificial intelligence to predict stock trends and how it led to his success. He expressed his excitement about supporting the creation of the School of Data Science building through his family foundation and celebrating how data science education is now accessible to everyone at UVA. The grand opening marked a significant milestone for UVA’s commitment to advancing data science education with contributions from past leaders like Woodriff and active involvement from students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
