Invited Panelist for Women in Data Science Regional Chapter

I had the privilege of joining a panel discussion hosted by the regional Women in Data Science chapter. Our conversation ranged from choosing a dissertation topic to negotiating collaborative authorship, and I left the evening inspired by the questions from the audience and by the honesty of my fellow panelists.

A recurring theme was the importance of finding mentors who will advocate for you when you are not in the room. I shared how much a handful of professors and senior graduate students have shaped my journey, often through small acts of sponsorship that felt ordinary to them and transformative to me. I encouraged the students in attendance to build their own advisory circle intentionally, and to be generous with that role as they become more senior themselves.

We also spent a long stretch of the evening discussing sustainability. Several students asked how to protect research time from the constant pull of teaching, service, and family responsibilities, and there was no easy answer. What emerged from the panel was a shared commitment to guarding a few non-negotiable hours each week for deep work, and to being honest with collaborators when a deadline is not realistic.

One of the most touching moments came at the end of the Q and A, when an undergraduate asked whether it was okay to change fields after committing to a graduate program. Every panelist answered yes, in slightly different words, and I could see the relief on her face. I hope she remembers that conversation the next time she second-guesses herself.

I want to thank the chapter organizers for the thoughtful preparation and for creating a room where difficult questions felt welcome. Community-run events like this one are among the most valuable parts of the data science ecosystem, and they only exist because people volunteer the hours to make them happen.

If you were at the event and want to continue the conversation, please reach out. I am always glad to trade notes with fellow early-career researchers, and I keep an informal list of resources on mentorship, writing, and job market preparation that I am happy to share.