Tom Choi

Tom Choi began his role as a Data Scientist Intern at the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS) in January 2023. He started full time in June 2023.

Choi, in his role as Data Scientist, works directly with the Assistant Director of Research and Evaluation and NSWERS’ partner organizations to help plan, organize, and execute research and evaluation functions. 

He also provides in-house research design and quantitative measurement expertise and creates a robust research dissemination approach to inform public policy and educational practice in alignment with NSWERS’ research priorities.

Choi holds a bachelor’s degree in counseling psychology and social welfare from Handong Global University in South Korea and master’s degrees in educational psychology and statistics from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. 

What author, researcher, or scientist is most influential to you in your work at NSWERS?

Walter W. Stroup for his well-written generalized mixed modeling textbook.

If I wasn’t in my field of work, I would probably be:

A social worker.

What gets you up in the morning?

A series of alarms set up with five-minute intervals.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?

They think I know a lot about artificial intelligence.

What hobby did you pick up or master during the pandemic?

I started going to the gym and lifting weights. I am far from a master though.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to become a doctor so I could take care of my family.

If you could only have three apps on your smartphone, which would you pick?

Alarm, YouTube, and Google Maps.

Coffee or Tea? Anything in it?

Coffee. Just black. 🙂