MADS student Anel Nurkayeva awarded CEW+ Petar and Zdravka Scholarship
Tuesday, 03/15/2022
Anel Nurkayeva is redefining what it means to be a student. As a mom of three kids, you’ll often find her listening to lectures while driving her kids to school or completing homework assignments between work meetings.
A recipient of the 2021-2022 Petar and Zdravka Zdravkovski scholarship through the Center for the Education of Women (CEW+), Anel recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Applied Data Science (MADS) degree from the School of Information.
“The fact that the program is online has helped a lot,” Anel says. “It’s been very rewarding.”
Before joining the MADS program, Anel worked as an analyst at Google and Facebook. Her experience in those roles was what inspired her to apply to U-M and pursue her dream of becoming a data scientist.
Anel says the MADS program was perfect for her. As a 100% online program, it allowed her to continue working in California and balance being a mom while advancing her career. Because the program is designed to offer ample flexibility, she was able to fit it into her already busy schedule.
“MADS has online lectures, office hours and deadlines, which means I didn’t have to show up to a class at a specific time, but could do course work and homework whenever I wanted,” she says.
The most exciting part of the program, says Anel, was the capstone project she completed before graduating in December 2021. Her project was about misinformation in the media during the pandemic.
“It’s actually very gratifying to do something very complicated,” she says. “I think MADS students really enjoy the difficult parts. It sort of tickles your mind, even if the courses are hard.”
When she’s not volunteering, parenting and working a full time job, Anel enjoys reading, watching true crime and exploring hiking trails in California.
Winning the Petar and Zdravka Zdravkovski Scholarship is a true celebration of Anel’s persistence and desire to change the world through data science. As a first generation immigrant from Kazakhstan, Anel has dedicated years to volunteering for organizations that solve real world issues, like domestic violence, climate change and education.
“It meant something that somebody who read my essay understands how much harder it was to get where I am right now and to see my work and volunteering recognized,” Anel says. “It gave me more confidence and it encourages me to continue to work hard.”
Learn more about UMSI's Master of Applied Data Science program and how to apply.