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After Scott Stephenson (Engr ’79) graduated from the School of Engineering and Applied Science, he took a job designing parts for missiles. His UVA education allowed him to assess the broader implications of his work.
“If I’d gone to MIT or Cal-Tech or a very technical university, maybe I would have something in the educational experience that would help. But I know for certain that I was given a broader education here, and it was so helpful to me as a 22-year-old to work through some of these questions that went well beyond the technical,” he said.
Now students at the School of Data Science will be able to translate their own UVA experiences into careers that apply data science to real-world issues through practical application of the principles behind it, and in the process, become future leaders and pioneers in the field.
In September 2024, the University announced a $10 million commitment from Scott and Beth Stephenson to provide a scholarship program for students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Data Science, a newly established undergraduate major. The Stephensons are longtime supporters of the University and the School of Data Science.
Their gift, creating the Stephenson Data Science Bicentennial Scholars Fund, was matched with an additional $10 million by the University for a total investment of $20 million.
“Beth and Scott have been deeply engaged with the School of Data Science since its founding, and I am incredibly grateful for their generous gift,” said Jim Ryan, UVA president at the time. “With Stephenson Scholarships nurturing the future leaders in data science at the University, their thoughtful and well-timed investment will enable the University to lead the way in this rapidly developing field of study.”
Building Out a New Major
In September 2023, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia approved the creation of a Bachelor of Science in Data Science at UVA, a landmark development for the school. The degree program was the first of its kind in the nation and includes 75 new data science undergraduate majors in 2025.
The scholarship program will fulfill 100% of each Stephenson Scholar’s demonstrated financial need by offsetting loan and/or work-study requirements. It will also allow students from all backgrounds to engage with the University’s and the school’s undergraduate experiences, including internships, research, and other opportunities in the interdisciplinary field of data science—and to graduate debt-free.
“My sincere thanks to Beth and Scott Stephenson for this transformative gift to accompany what is a first—a groundbreaking Bachelor of Science in Data Science program,” said Phil Bourne, the Stephenson Dean of the School of Data Science. “I cannot think of a better way forward or better advocates of data science than the Stephensons. The financial support and mentoring of the Stephenson Scholars will bring forth qualities of leadership in quantitative skills as applied to the needs of society.”
This fall, the school’s admissions team in coordination with Student Financial Services will select Stephenson Scholars from the rising second-year students admitted to the Bachelor of Science in Data Science program.
Stephenson has been involved with data science throughout his academic and professional careers. He is the founder of SGS Capital and former chair, president, and CEO of Verisk Analytics. He has served on the School of Data Science board since 2015, when it was first the Data Science Institute. He and his wife supported the establishment of the Stephenson Dean of the School of Data Science with a gift in 2021.
The concept for establishing the Scholars Program came naturally for the Stephensons. “We have direct experience of the value of a technical education in the context of the overall breadth of the University, Scott having studied at the engineering school as an undergraduate,” Beth Stephenson said. “In our family, we were fortunate that all three of our children emerged from their undergraduate studies debt-free, and we saw how this permitted them to accelerate into their chosen fields. We’re excited to support other young scholars down the same path.”
Scott Stephenson added that they were pleased to partner with the University and the School of Data Science.
“We believe the School of Data Science—and, therefore, this Scholar’s Program—can and will be very strategic for the University,” he said. “We expect the undergraduate degree to be very popular with current and prospective scholars, and, with time, the success of the school will lead to deeper ties to relevant industries and areas of sponsored research.
