Our new student ambassador program welcomes prospective students at Visit Bucky events by offering tours of Morgridge Hall and a glimpse into student life at UW–Madison.
The School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) is home to the top-ranked departments of Computer Sciences, Statistics, and the Information School, offering the university’s two largest majors: Computer Sciences and Data Science. With over 6,300 students enrolled, our student ambassadors serve as guides for prospective students, families, and visitors. At Visit Bucky events, they share insights about day-to-day life in CDIS, give tours of our state-of-the-art home, Morgridge Hall, explain how the school’s programs connect across majors, and offer insight into finding community.
Finding community
Lia Fitzpatrick, from Boston, enjoys a learning environment where taking educational risks feels possible with the support of her peers and professors. With coursework spanning computer sciences, data science, geospatial data science, and environmental studies, she finds this support invaluable: “The friends I’ve made, and my professors have created a supportive learning environment where I feel confident to take risks and learn new things.”
Carol Oh, an information science and political science major from Portage, WI, had a similar experience. Faculty, advisors, and librarians were easy to approach, she said, and that made a large campus feel much smaller. For Taylor Wilmot, from Kenosha, WI, who studies computer sciences, data science, and information science, that sense of connection shapes day-to-day life:
It’s inspiring to be surrounded by peers and faculty who are passionate about technology, genuinely kind, and eager to collaborate.
From interdisciplinary learning to entrepreneurship
Almost half of our students pursue a second or even third major, and that interdisciplinary spirit goes hand in hand with an entrepreneurial culture, reflected by our student ambassadors. Zhenya Ratushko, a data science and environmental studies major from Rochester, MN, balances her coursework with work as a data analyst intern. For Rahaditya (Adit) Raisuli, from Malaysia, a data science major with certificates across computer science, mathematics, and education, some of the most meaningful learning happens through collaborative events like MadHacks.
The mix of academics and entrepreneurship also resonates with Hriday Thakkar, from the United Arab Emirates, who studies computer science, mathematics, and actuarial science. Through advisory boards and student leadership roles, he works directly with faculty and campus leaders.
CDIS has also been a huge boost for my entrepreneurship, surrounding me with people, ideas, and resources that push me to build and take my projects from concept to reality.
Camber Walvoort from Oostburg, WI, studies information science and consumer behavior and marketplace studies, blending interests in data, people, and business. She is active on campus, with leadership roles at Rotaract-UW, the Wisconsin Union, and SOAR. “My favorite part of being a CDIS student is taking classes in Morgridge Hall … and the wonderful professors who care so much for their students.”
Prospective students and families can meet the student ambassadors during Visit Bucky campus events – offering a chance to explore CDIS programs, learn how different majors intersect, and hear directly from students about their experiences at UW–Madison.