Alumni Reflections: How Data+ Shaped Our Paths
Data+ is Duke’s longest-running summer “plus” program. Led by the Rhodes Information Initiative at Duke (iiD), undergraduate and master’s students learn how to analyze, visualize and interpret data to solve real-world challenges while gaining broad exposure to the field of data science.
Former students recently told Rhodes iiD how Data+ helped them build confidence, master the research process, discover how data can drive social impact and more.
Confidence and Career Direction
Ben Williams, Data+ 2020
Now a software quality assurance engineer at General Motors on the automated driving assistance system team, Ben Williams credits Data+ with helping him find clarity and confidence in his career path.
“Taking that leap and joining Data+, while also finding a chance to do something community impactful, really springboarded me and gave me a lot of confidence.”
Ben says the program along with his Certificate in Energy strengthened his coding, collaboration and communication skills, and affirmed his desire to use technology for good.
Mentorship That Lasts
Kassie Hamilton, Data+ 2021
As a research assistant at Washington University in St. Louis, Kassie Hamilton continues to apply the research skills she developed during Data+ to explore the relationship between neuroimaging markers and depression.
“What sticks with me the most was learning how to follow the research process. We spent time thinking about how to do this research in an ethical way, and then worked on forming a specific research question. I worked with Greg Herschlag on my project that summer and for a long time after that.”
She says the project lead became a trusted reference and advisor.
Data for Social Justice
Nick Datto, Data+ 2020
Nick Datto is a law student at NYU and interned at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund this past summer. He found Data+ to be a turning point in understanding that data can support societal change.
“Data+ taught me that economics and data science can be used for something that’s progressive and aligned with what I normatively wanted out of the world — but can still be empirical and grounded in reality.”
His experience presenting findings to the Durham City Council helped him see the power of statistics in shaping public discourse and policy.
A Safe Space to Grow
Bernice Meja, Data+ 2019
Soon to begin a full-time role as a UX researcher in Durham, Bernice Meja remembers Data+ as a supportive environment that encouraged exploration.
“There was a lot of grace... a very psychologically safe environment to learn and experiment and try new things, to step outside of your comfort zone.”
Data+ 2026 Request for Proposals
The Rhodes Information Initiative is now calling for proposals for faculty-sponsored projects for the Summer 2026 edition of Data+. The deadline is November 3, 2025. Read the full RFP for details.
Main image: Video still of Bernice Meja. Thanks to Rhodes iiD for conducting and sharing these video interviews.