Her Story
About Semora
Semora Burns is a data collection specialist and editor contracted with the Maryland Restorative Justice Initiative, where she focuses on survey development, editorial refinement, and data collection processes that support research and program evaluation. With approximately 5 to 6 years of experience in the field, she brings a strong foundation in quantitative research, statistical analysis, and data-driven problem solving, along with growing expertise in cybersecurity and ethical data management.
Her professional background includes roles as a quantitative research analyst at a private data consulting firm and as a data specialist at the University of Maryland, where she contributed to large-scale research initiatives involving programming, data cleaning, and social science analysis. She has also supported geospatial and predictive modeling projects, applying tools such as R and Python to interpret complex datasets and inform strategic decision-making. Currently, she continues to expand her skill set through a cybersecurity certification at the University of Texas at Austin while maintaining consulting work that bridges research, editing, and technical data systems.
Burns holds a master’s degree in Quantitative Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy with a pre-law focus. She is also certified to conduct human subjects research interviews, reflecting her commitment to ethical and responsible data practices. Guided by values of compassion, honesty, and authenticity, she attributes her success to resilience and self-encouragement through personal loss. She encourages aspiring professionals—especially young women in data and tech fields—to “fail forward,” avoid self-limitation, and remain their own strongest advocates while continuing to grow through challenges.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Semora
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, self-reliance, and my commitment to continuing my education and pursuing my goals despite personal loss. I have also learned the importance of being my own biggest supporter and staying motivated even in difficult seasons.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to “fail forward.” This perspective has helped me view setbacks as opportunities to learn, grow, and continue moving forward rather than as permanent obstacles.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women not to limit themselves and to speak positively about their own potential. It is important to accept failure as part of growth, take ownership where possible, and avoid a victim mentality, while also allowing space to process and learn from challenges.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field is the integration of data skills with cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, especially as demand grows to protect data for small businesses. At the same time, a key challenge is ensuring that data collected, particularly by smaller organizations, is properly secured and managed ethically.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are compassion, empathy, honesty, respect, and authenticity. These principles guide how I approach my work, relationships, and decision-making.
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