Hailey Hansen, MACSS

Hailey Hansen is a current second-year Masters in Computational Social Science (MACSS) student from Oak Park, Illinois. “MACSS appealed to me because of its applied focus and broad disciplinary scope,” says Hansen. 

Hansen’s undergraduate degree is in Public Health, so it’s no surprise that Hansen’s graduate studies have a similar focus. The thesis she is working on explores the relationship between tornados and human health, specifically she says, “the extent to which healthcare delivery for patients with chronic conditions is disrupted in the days and weeks following a tornado.” She is working on her thesis under the direction of Professor Kate Burrows in the Biological Science Division, demonstrating the flexibility MACSS students have in advising and mentoring. However, MACSS Professor Zhao Wang has also been an immense support. “Both professors have been very generous with their time and expertise,” shares Hansen. 

The MACSS curriculum has also helped Hansen gain skills and confidence as a programmer. Hansen acknowledges that she entered the program with “zero computational knowledge,” but the required boot camp as well as the MACSS course Big Data and High Performance Computing for Social Scientists, “radically improved” her confidence in herself as a programmer while also providing marketable skills. She also notes that the small size of the core classes has been immensely important. “The smaller class size helps me feel more comfortable participating and more engaged in the course, and it has given me the chance to get to know my classmates and professors really well,” explains Hansen. 

But her time in MACSS is not all thesis and classes. Hansen notes that “Hyde Park has a special place in my heart because of its walkability and proximity to the lake: as a runner, these features made it so easy to motivate myself to get outside.” 

Finally, Hansen’s primary advice to both applicants and new MACSS students is simple: ask questions. “For potential applicants, asking questions about the program will give you a chance to better understand if it is the right fit for you. For new students, asking questions in class will help you carve out your own research interest.”