Alumni Spotlight

Charles Fuller graduated in May 2024 with a degree in Data Analytics and quickly launched his career at Daikin Comfort Technologies in Houston, Texas. He joined a newly formed Kaizen team focused on improving logistics operations across North America. That team has since merged into the broader logistics engineering group, where Charles continues to drive data-informed solutions.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Charles began his professional journey in Denver’s cannabis industry, where he gained valuable experience in quality control and scaling operations. His passion for systems and efficiency led him back to school, where internships with Tetra Pak and ConMet sparked a deep interest in logistics and supply chain management.

At WSU Vancouver, Charles was an active member of the Vancouver Data Club and was honored as the 2024 Data Analytics Top Senior. He remains a proud supporter of the Data Analytics program, helping to elevate its presence and impact.

I graduated from Washington State University in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics degree and was the first Everett student to complete the program. During my senior year, I interned at EagleView, a company that uses aerial imagery to solve geospatial problems. While there, I was introduced to deep learning and developed my first computer vision model, a semantic segmentation classifier that identified flooded neighborhoods after natural disasters.

After graduating, I joined EagleView full-time on the machine learning team, working on computer vision problems related to roofing analytics. Two years later, I accepted an offer from eBay to join the performance marketing team as a data scientist. My current work focuses on solving imagery-related problems in the e-commerce space. I help determine high-quality item listings for advertising by creating business rules and deploying computer vision models. It’s a fast-paced and rewarding environment that constantly challenges me to grow.

Outside of work, I’m passionate about STEAM education and volunteering, especially with organizations that promote data literacy and hands-on learning. I’ve been involved in events like Girls Explore STEM through WSU Everett, where we introduced students to probability and real-world data applications. My goal is to make the sessions as fun as possible while still emphasizing the importance of data, and how it’s all around us! I also helped volunteer with Jan Dasgupta and Sergey Lapin, a data literacy camp in partnership with WSU and the Everett Boys & Girls Club, using games to teach youth how to understand and communicate with data. And most importantly, share how fun data can be!

I’ve had the opportunity to return to WSU as a guest lecturer for current data analytics students. My talks have covered a range of topics, including k-means clustering, linear algebra in computer vision, building binary classifier models for classification, and preparing for job interviews in the tech industry.  Guest lecturing has helped me solidify my own knowledge while also allowing me to show applications to students. I am passionate about collaborating with others and facilitating the development of their data skills, as well as instilling a sense of curiosity and excitement in others when approaching challenges which WSU allows me to do.

I’m passionate about collaboration, mentoring, and helping others build confidence in their data skills. WSU continues to be one of my favorite places to volunteer because of its strong sense of community. I’m proud to have recently joined the industry board for the Data Analytics program and hope to continue working with WSU in the future.

Kate Prophet is an environmental enthusiast and advocate who graduated from the Washington State University Global Campus’ Data Analytics program. She has recently been accepted to Sorbonne University in Paris, France, where she will pursue a Master’s degree in Computer Science with a specialization in Quantum Information. The Sorbonne is a prestigious institution known for its unique programs taught in English and its rich history of integrating Arts and Humanities with Science and Medicine.