Connecting Career with Passion: Smriti Murali’s Journey
Smrithi Murali is a proud May 2026 graduate, earning her degree in Data Science, minoring in Psychology, and earning a certificate in Sports Analytics.
Experience at UNC Charlotte
Wake Forest native Smriti Murali described her experience at UNC Charlotte as exciting, informative, and inspiring. From the beginning of her time as a psychology major at Charlotte, she kept her mind open to new experiences and interests beyond what she believed would be her path, and UNC Charlotte allowed Smriti to expand her horizons; she took the opportunity presented to her.
“ I chose UNC Charlotte because it was just far enough from home to where I could be independent, while also being able to go home and visit my parents. Also, my favorite color is Niner Green. I initially declared psychology as my major when I applied to UNC Charlotte, but after attending the open house and speaking with members of SDS, I was sure about switching. I enjoy how data can be read as a story and how it is collected, analyzed, and used to find patterns to make other processes more efficient.”
From immersing herself in a new field that had not crossed her mind at the beginning to speaking with those who showed excitement and innovation within the department, Smriti also wanted to give a shout-out to Professor John Tobias, the School of Data Science program director for the Sports Analytics Certificate program.
“One of my favorite professors at UNC Charlotte was John Tobias. He was truly influential to my career path and helped me realize that I can work in sports. I was an intern for NinerStats for the Women’s Soccer team, as well as the Women’s Lacrosse team in their inaugural season, and I could not have been able to get to this point without his guidance and the opportunities I was given.”
Being a 49er gave Smriti the opportunity to grow in areas she had always appreciated and showed her how to make it into a full-fledged career,, especially by combining her love and passion for sports and data.
“I realized [since being at UNC Charlotte] that I am a very adaptable person and that I am capable of connecting my career with my passion. I enjoy solving problems and finding the right answer to making a process efficient.”
Smriti is currently a full-time employee at Carolina Ascent and Charlotte Independence as the New Technologies and Ticket Operations Manager.
“I am excited to be part of a new and growing organization that aligns so closely with my passion for sports and soccer. Growing up, I played soccer and always dreamed of working for a soccer team one day, so it feels incredibly exciting and meaningful to be in this position now.”
Piece of advice
Smriti wanted to share one final piece of advice, drawn from her time here at Charlotte, that she hopes will help incoming freshmen as they navigate this next chapter of their lives.
“Join clubs, participate in campus events, and get as many connections on LinkedIn as possible. The community that you build around yourself can be incredibly beneficial in your future and even your personal life. Community is key!”