Gisele Fretta Barros

Gisele is an Applied Data Scientist at Minerva University’s DataHub, where she helps develop data-informed frameworks and tools that support student success, academic innovation, and institutional decision-making. Having worked with the DataHub since its foundation, she collaborates across teams to translate data into actionable insights that improve the student experience.     Her interest in the intersection of data and education began during her time as an Admissions Intern at Minerva, where she first saw how thoughtful use of data could shape students’ learning journeys. As a Teaching Assistant for CS110, she further explored the role of data science in education, collaborating on initiatives to strengthen assessment frameworks and support evidence-based decision-making across the university.     Beyond higher education, Gisele is passionate about applying data science to social impact challenges. While living in Argentina, she worked with TECHO to transform field survey data into decision-ready dashboards that helped prioritize families for housing construction projects. At Minerva, she graduated with a major in Data Science and a minor in Historical Forces. Her capstone project combined data visualization and queueing theory simulation to examine bottlenecks in Brazil’s prison system through an interactive visual story.     Originally from Brazil and currently based in Berlin, Gisele is pursuing a Master of Data Science for Public Policy at the Hertie School, supported by the Data for Good Scholarship and the Changemaker Scholarship. Her work is driven by a belief that data is most valuable when it helps institutions make better decisions and creates meaningful improvements in people's lives.