Eric Van Dusen

Eric Van Dusen serves as a Lecturer and Tech and Outreach Lead in Data Science Undergraduate Studies at UC Berkeley's College of Computing, Data Science, and Society, where he has transformed data science education over the past decade. After earning his BS from UC Berkeley and PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from UC Davis, with specializations in International Development and Econometrics, he has built an impressive career combining economics and data science education. Since joining Berkeley's Data Science program in 2017, he has pioneered innovative curriculum development, including creating new courses that bridge data science with economics and international development. As Director of Curriculum in the Division of Data Science and Information, he has led significant initiatives including the development of Data Science Modules, Connector courses, and the expansion of data science offerings across disciplines. His work has been instrumental in making data science education more accessible, particularly through the implementation of cloud-based infrastructure using Jupyter notebooks. Van Dusen's impact extends beyond Berkeley through his leadership in the National Workshop on Data Science Education and the California Alliance for Data Science Education, where he works to make data science education broadly accessible to community colleges and other institutions. His international experience spans projects in Mexico, Central America, Uzbekistan, and Kenya, contributing to his unique perspective on applying data science to real-world challenges.