Data Science Alumni

The UC Berkeley Data Science Undergraduate Studies (DSUS) program proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of our 2026 alumni award recipients. These awards celebrate those who have leveraged their data science education to create meaningful impact in their communities, industries, or toward societal good.

Congratulations to our 2026 recipients! 

UC Berkeley’s undergraduate data science program retained its No. 1 spot in the 2026 U.S. News and World Report rankings. “We're encouraged to see the continued recognition of Berkeley’s excellence in data science and computer science, two fields that are changing our society dramatically,” said Jennifer Chayes, dean of the UC Berkeley College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS). "We have a momentous responsibility to educate the next generation of leaders to approach data and AI with an ethical mindset that benefits the public good."

As Data 8 marks its 10-year anniversary, Francie McQuarrie (B.A. ’20), Shoumik Jamil (B.A. ’19) and Angela Guan (B.A. ’21) came together to provide launch gifts for the Data 8 10-Year Anniversary Crowdfund, helping propel the course into its next decade.

For each, Data 8 was more than an introduction to data science, it was the start of something bigger. While their stories reflect a surface pattern of discovery in data science, each took away something unique and deeply personal from their experience.

A huge thanks to our amazing alumni who came back for Homecoming to talk about their journeys from Berkeley Data Science students to where they are now: Akshatha Muralidhar, Snehal Dhawan, Shoumik Jamil, Kevin‌‌‌‌‌‌ Miao, Rishabh Meswani, and Nabeil Kizilbash. The audience was incredibly grateful for their honest advice, career insights, and encouragement for the next generation. Thank you for dedicating the time and effort to show up for our community in this way!

Ten years ago, UC Berkeley introduced Data 8: Foundations of Data Science, a course designed to be a widely accessible on-ramp to one of the 21st century's most essential fields. It has since grown into a campus-wide phenomenon, inspiring students from every major to see the world through a data-driven lens.

For the former course staff who helped the class flourish, the impact of Data 8 has been both professional and deeply personal. Their reflections highlight the course’s welcoming framework, collaboration culture and lasting influence.

At UC Berkeley's 2025 National Workshop on Data Science Education, a panel of UC Berkeley alumni offered their perspectives, reflecting on how their undergraduate experience shaped their careers, what they wish they'd known earlier and how educators can better prepare students for a changing workforce.