LeAnn

LeAnn was the 2024 Khoury College Graduate Celebration speaker.

My Background

I grew up in Chula Vista in Southern San Diego. I did my undergrad at UC San Diego and obtained a BS in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics, an interdisciplinary degree that encompasses biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computer science. In the latter years of my undergrad, I found myself transitioning from clinical research to computational biology and became intrigued with the versatility and applicability of machine learning and data science in not only healthcare, but across different industries. As my interests evolved, I decided to pivot my career trajectory from healthcare to technology.

Without having an academic background in machine learning or data science, I quickly learned the importance of a solid foundation in these fields and sought to align my background into the pursuit of a master’s in data science — bringing me to the Northeastern Align Data Science Master’s Program.

My Future

I feel the most invigorated when I have the opportunity to be creative. Outside of my technical background, I enjoy photography, baking, music, design, fashion, and trying new creative pursuits. Bridging my interdisciplinary technical background, with my passion for creativity, I hope to work as a data scientist for a creative tech company such as Spotify, Pinterest, Adobe, Instagram, YouTube, etc.

Additionally, as a Filipina First-Generation college student, I am passionate about being an advocate for STEM within under-represented communities. Some roles I’ve taken on have included teaching and mentoring robotics at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as becoming an Align student ambassador. As I advance in my career, I aspire to find ways to make the pathway to tech and CS education more accessible and inclusive for those of all backgrounds.