Building Things That Help: Alli Borland’s Journey

Alli Borland graduated in May 2026 with a Bachelor’s degree in Data Science and a minor in software development.

Experience at Unc charlotte

As a Charlotte native, Alli Borland carefully considered where to pursue her undergraduate education.

“ I was deciding between UNC Charlotte and NC State and talked to students from both. Ultimately, I wanted to live close to the city and be around people who had lives outside of school, like work and family.”

Choosing Charlotte was straightforward for Alli. Early in her studies, she recognized that her initial major was not aligned with her interests, as she believes classroom experiences should inspire and foster intellectual growth.

“ I started in Computer Science and Engineering, but found myself getting bored in those classes. I wanted to do something that had a clearer impact on business. I also started a blog in college that was making money, and I realized later I was already doing data science work without even knowing it.”

Alli described her experience at Charlotte as welcoming, educational, and enjoyable. In addition to shaping her own academic path, her professional development was significantly influenced by Professor Chris Dong.

“Chris Dong, an associate professor in one of my data science classes, really stood out to me. He taught concepts that I actually use today in my data science internships. He also asked what we wanted to learn more about and shaped the class around that, which made it feel more real and applicable.”

Following graduation, Alli expressed enthusiasm for her future and confidence in the opportunities enabled by her comprehensive experience at Charlotte.

“I’m excited to have more time to build projects that I think can genuinely help people. For example, I recently went through the process of buying a car, and it was frustrating, so I’d love to build a website that makes that experience easier using what I’ve learned.”

Alli currently serves as a Data Science and Data Engineering intern at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

“I enjoy working on projects that have a direct impact and getting exposure to different areas like AI, cybersecurity, and software systems.” 

Final piece of advice

Alli offered a final piece of advice for incoming students, reflecting on what shaped her experience as a 49er.

“Go to things! College would have been so much harder if I didn’t get involved, even just a little. You meet so many different people, and you never know when you’ll see them again. A girl I met at a club in my freshman year is now my best friend, and we bonded over both being too tired to take the stairs.”