Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Pete VanZandt celebrated 15 years at the College by becoming a BSC student himself. Returning to the other side of the classroom – and making time to formally study outside of his research expertise – is something VanZandt has been wanting to do for a long time, and BSC’s Accelerated Data Science Program presented the perfect opportunity to do so.

“As faculty, we all love the process of learning more,” VanZandt says. “If we have the time, I know that lots of us would like to take more classes. This was one of the most humbling, difficult experiences I’ve ever had, but, if it wasn’t that difficult, I would not have valued it as I do.”

Last summer, VanZandt was part of the very first data science cohort through the College’s collaborative program with Flatiron School. He adds his time in the program to the list of strenuous, and at times grueling, challenges that have become some of his proudest achievements, like earning his doctorate degree, finishing several ultramarathons, and biking for 24 hours straight.

“I’ve always believed that computing should be a part of every major,” he says. “There’s not a discipline, department, or aspect of our lives that’s not touched by data. I saw this program as an opportunity to increase my skills and better understand the possible connections between computing and what our students can do and what I can teach.”

After completing pre-work assignments, and bringing his 25 years in statistics and some experience in programming languages, VanZandt joined undergraduate students, recent graduates, and professionals to learn a completely new skillset at a rapid pace.

He consistently found ways to apply the knowledge to his work as a faculty member and administrator. VanZandt’s two final projects focused on moths, his research expertise, and on BSC graduation predictors.

“I never would have known how to apply these different and novel data science approaches if I hadn’t taken this class,” Van Zandt says. “As chair of the biology department, I’m interested in how students progress through their first-year sequence. I have the tools now to do an analysis on what factors are leading students to be successful through those first four courses.”

Though many students in the data science program are looking to change their career or break into Birmingham’s growing data science companies, VanZandt brought a different but nonetheless important goal – to gain a new expertise on data science that he will find numerous ways to bring into his current position.

“And having a student’s perspective again is something that’s going to make my teaching better.”

This story was published in the Fall/Winter 2021 issue of ’Southern, BSC’s alumni magazine.

If you have ideas for our next issue of ’Southern, please email [email protected]. We always welcome stories about outstanding people from the BSC community.

VanZandt is currently listening to Lord Huron. “When the classrooms were loud and I needed to focus, I would listen to a lot of Lord Huron. They’re kind of mellow and folksy, but also have a Texas swing sound.”