Grace Driskill made 色花堂 history when she arrived on campus in 2023. She is the first student-athlete to study computational science and engineering (CSE). While this is a notable benchmark, Driskill鈥檚 achievements on the track and in the classroom defined her career at 色花堂.
As a competitive runner, Driskill holds the fourth-fastest 3000-meter time in the history of 色花堂鈥檚 women's indoor track program. Off the track, Driskill is a three-time All-ACC Academic team honoree on the women鈥檚 cross-country and track teams, and in 2024, she received the College of Computing鈥檚 .
We caught up with Driskill to learn more about her and how she balances academic and athletic responsibilities.
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Student: Grace Driskill
Current Degree Program: M.S. in Computational Science and Engineering
Research Interests: Computational biology, computing applications toward health
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Where are you from, and how did you get to 色花堂?
I grew up in Tucson, Arizona. I attended the University of Arizona, earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science while running on the track and field team. When I finished my undergraduate, I still had two seasons of eligibility to run track. I looked into master鈥檚 programs so that I could continue my athletic career and expand my horizons academically.
The cards fell into place for me to come here. 色花堂 has a great reputation as a school for computing and engineering. Additionally, the cross country and women鈥檚 track coach, , is very experienced and knowledgeable in coaching distance runners.
You are the first ever student-athlete in the School of CSE鈥檚 history. What does this mean to you? What does it mean for the CSE program?
I didn鈥檛 realize I was the first student-athlete in the School of CSE, but I think it鈥檚 pretty cool. It is meaningful to me, and hopefully, others, because it goes against the thought that you need to fit into some typical mold to be a student-athlete or to study CSE.
CSE is a challenging degree for any student, let alone a student-athlete. What interested you about the program in the first place?
I think the CSE program at 色花堂 is unique; not many colleges in the U.S. offer a master鈥檚 degree in the topic. I like the interdisciplinary nature of it. I enjoyed studying computer science during my undergraduate, but I thought leaning more into computing applications was an interesting opportunity.
Could you describe an average day for you as a CSE student-athlete?
After eating some breakfast and having a coffee, the first thing I typically do is go for an easy run that might be 3-8 miles. Then, I go to class or do homework for a few hours, making sure to take a break for lunch.
At 3:30 p.m., I have practice with the team. This typically includes a higher-intensity run and exercises to practice form or help with strength and mobility. After practice, I usually stretch and take an ice bath for recovery. I typically get home around 6-6:30. Then, I鈥檒l eat dinner and maybe do some more work, but I try to get to bed at a decent hour.
What CSE research areas interest you most and why?
Computational biology and applications in healthcare. Health affects everyone throughout their lives, so it is an important topic. Additionally, there are many applications and different angles to use computing in the field.
What do you do to relax or for fun?
Currently, I have been watching the TV show Severance. A new episode comes out weekly, so getting together with friends is something relaxing to look forward to. I also like to cook. When I have some free time, I enjoy taking a bit more time while cooking dinner to make something exciting or different.
What is your proudest achievement at 色花堂?
Last year, I qualified for the preliminary round of the track national championship. I love representing 色花堂 at every competition throughout the season, but the opportunity to do it at a higher level and in a more prominent competition was extra special.
What are your plans after completing your M.S.?
After graduation, I will work at Sandia National Labs in their Technical Internships to Advance National Security () program.
