Berkeley

UC Berkeley’s First Data Science Majors Celebrate Graduation

Published

8 years ago

December 20, 2018

Eight of the nine data science majors who graduated December 15 gathered in the Division of Data Sciences on December 14 to celebrate their achievement. From left: Jeevan Reddy Mokkala, Emanuel Lucban, Adam Osborn, Nikhil Krishnan, Thao Vo,
Alexander Ivanoff, Liam Shi and Howe Cui. Not pictured: Ting Chih Lin. (UC Berkeley photo by Hulda Nelson).

Alexander Ivanoff couldn’t get enough data science.
After taking the introductory course Foundations of Data Science (Data 8) in the fall semester of his sophomore year, the UC Berkeley senior wanted to find out where else the numbers could take him. He also wanted to spread his new enthusiasm for data with other students, especially those who may not consider themselves “number people.”
He paired up with Vinitra Swamy and faculty member Niek Veldhuis to form one of the first data science “modules” — teams of students and faculty collaborating to build computational teaching tools for subjects ranging from history to cognitive neuroscience – and within months was creating a new platform for students to analyze ancient Sumerian texts in Veldhuis’s Cuneiform languages class.
One of the tools they developed was a language analysis software that could help pinpoint where different characters appeared in various texts, unveiling clues about what the Sumerians thought was important, which characters were related and what they did.
“Veldhuis took us to the anthropology museum and we got to literally hold ancient Sumerian clay tablets to connect on that next level with what they are doing,” Ivanoff said. “They showed me just how versatile data science tools were, which, combined with hearing about their capabilities in the news, made me really want to get involved more.”
On December 15, Ivanoff was one of nine students to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Data Science, the first set of degrees to be granted in this rapidly growing new major. Launched this fall, nearly 1,200 students have already filed pre-declarations for the major. Approximately 100 are expected to graduate with the degree this spring.
“The very first question on the very first day of the [pilot Data 8] class wasn’t ‘How are you going to grade the final,’ it was, ‘Will the data science major be ready in time for me to graduate?’” said David Culler, interim dean for data sciences, at an event to honor the majors on December `14.
A team was assembled over the summer to plan out the advising process for all the students, bringing together experience from across the campus. Hundreds of students got individual advising, which will allow them to navigate the expectations of the new major.
“I was originally a cognitive science and stats double major, and when they announced the data science major, I realized I could switch my do-it-yourself data science major to the actual data science major,” Ivanoff said.
The major is built upon a foundation of computer science, statistics and mathematics courses. But it doesn’t stop there. Each student is also required to specialize in a “domain,” which encourages them to apply their analytical skills to real-world problems. This year’s cohort graduates with domain emphases in cognition, computational biology methods, economics, robotics, social welfare, health and poverty, and applied mathematics and modeling.
Students say the wide breadth of applications of data science is one of the things they love about the field.
“Every time I have a new dataset I feel like I am learning something, and it makes me feel like I can always explore new things,” said Thao Vo, who chose applied math, modeling, and optimization as her emphasis.
And industry demand for tech-savvy graduates hasn’t hurt student enthusiam.
“I’m a big fan of the phrase ‘skate to where the puck is going,’” said Ivanoff, who will graduate with an emphasis in cognition. “To really be peak employable, I would want to get more technical skills under my belt, and it is great that they are already really applicable to the field that I wanted to study”
Student interest has propelled the creation of the major, said history professor Cathryn Carson, who leads the Data Science Education Program. In addition to building the module program, students have filled the first floor of Moffit Library with peer advisers and teaching consultants, and have created a host of student organizations that run workshops and industry events. They also have been essential in outreach, Carson said, helping attract new students to data science who might not feel welcome in technical fields.
“We knew that something real was going on in the outside world that the students were the signal of,” said Carson. “It took a lot of collaboration across the university, including the administration, and a lot of spurring by the students to put the major together.”
Emanuel Lucban, a non-traditional student who has more than a decade of experience in web design and I.T., also cel¬ebrated his graduation on December 15. He was inspired to go back to school after reading a 2012 New York Times article about how a statistical model developed by Target analyzed purchasing behavior to accurately predict that a woman was pregnant before her family knew – and, conveniently, sent her coupons for prenatal vita¬mins.
“The capacity to record data has increased over the past decade, and now we are finding all sorts of uses for data — things that I never would have imagined, and it was just interesting to me what kinds of things we could infer from data,” Lucban said.
Lucban took computer science classes at a local community college before transferring to UC Berkeley in 2016. Though he started as a com¬puter science major, Lucban jumped at the chance to get a degree in data science.
“I was really excited when I heard Iabout this new data science major opening up because that was my entire reason for going back to school — I eventually planned to leave here and then go to grad school for data science,” Lucban said.
“These students were motivated by their own desire to complete this major and their own sense that they could make it in the world,” Carson said. “They are a really special group.”

Kara Manke

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Activism

Black Repertory Group Needs Volunteers to Help Shape the Next Generation of Artists and Leaders

Legendary performers such as Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover worked with and were inspired by BRG’s founders. More recently, Grammy award-winning artist Kehlani attended the Black Repertory Group Summer Day Camp for several years.

Published

4 months ago

June 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Courtesy image.

By Sean Vaughn Scott, Special to The Post

For more than 60 years, the Black Repertory Group (BRG) has changed lives through the arts.

Founded in 1964 by educators and visionaries Birel L. Vaughn and Nora Vaughn, BRG has become one of America’s oldest continuously operating Black theater institutions. For generations, it has preserved culture, developed talent, and provided opportunities for young people to discover their voices and their potential.

The results speak for themselves.

Long before international recognition, Kehlani performed on the BRG stage. During a summer day camp production of “Princess and da Frog,” she portrayed Ray, the lovable firefly whose light guided others through the darkness. Her journey is proof that today’s camper may become tomorrow’s artist, entrepreneur, educator, or leader.

Located at 3201 Adeline St. in Berkeley, BRG continues that mission through its Youth Summer Day Camp of the Arts.

BRG is currently accepting applications and maintains an open enrollment program. Students may enroll throughout the summer as space permits and immediately become part of the BRG family.

We are also proud to be a multicultural opportunity program, welcoming children and families from all backgrounds, cultures, and communities. Through theater, music, dance, public speaking, visual arts, technical theater, and leadership development, students gain confidence, discipline, creativity, and lifelong skills.

As our programs grow, so does our need for volunteers.

We are seeking community members to assist with youth mentoring, registration, costumes, set construction, painting, props, ushering, photography, social media, marketing, technical theater, and fundraising activities. Whether you volunteer for a few hours or throughout the season, your support directly impacts the lives of young people.

BRG also partners with churches, civic organizations, alumni associations, fraternities, sororities, and community groups through theater party fundraisers, group sales, and buy-out performances. These partnerships have helped organizations raise funds while supporting arts and cultural programming.

The theater also serves as the home of the Berkeley NAACP Chapter, which meets every second Saturday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more than six decades, the Black Repertory Group has remained committed to one belief: every child deserves an opportunity to shine.

The next great artist may already be among us.

The next Kehlani may already be walking through our doors.

We invite you to volunteer, enroll, participate, and become part of the legacy.

For more information please go to www.blackrepertorygroup.com, call (510) 652-2120, or email info@blackrepertorygroup.com

Sean Vaughn Scott is the director of the Black Repertory Group.

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

UC Berkeley Named Top Public University in the U.S. and No. 7 in the World by ‘U.S. News’

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014. “A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

Published

4 months ago

June 24, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo by Keegan Houser/UC Berkeley.

The 2026 Best Global Universities rankings evaluated 2,250 research institutions from more than 100 countries

By Lila Thulin

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Berkeley No. 7 in its 2026 list of the best global universities, which assesses more than 2,250 research institutions worldwide.

Berkeley also claimed the honor of top public university in the U.S.

Released on Monday, the list evaluates universities from more than 100 countries on 13 metrics such as global and research reputation (as reported by academics and peers) and number of highly cited scholarly papers.

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014.

“A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

The rankings also assess a university’s strength in various subject areas; these assessments are separate from U.S. News’ 2026 Best Graduate Programs rankings released in April.

This year, Berkeley was named in the top three nationally in seven subject areas – environment/ecology, ecology, water resources, physics, computer science, chemistry, and engineering – and in the top five for a total of 17 subjects. Subject rankings are based heavily on scholarly publications and citations as well as reputation.

In September, U.S. News also released its 2026 Best Colleges list, in which Berkeley was also named the No. 1 public institution among American universities.

That honor joins other accolades judging campus to be the best public university in the country, such as those from Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

Oakland Post

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Arts and Culture

Farwest Region Deltas Celebrate Centennial With “September Breakfast” Honoring Vivian Osborne Marsh

The region was established in 1925 under the leadership of Vivian Osborne Marsh, who became its first Regional Director. Marsh was a pioneering scholar and civic leader, earning recognition as the first Black woman to receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in anthropology from UC Berkeley.

Published

1 year ago

September 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Farwest Regional Director, Kimberly Usher, Mayor Barbara Lee, US Representative Lateefah Simon, and Farwest Regional Representative, Radiya Ajibade. Photo courtesy of Farwest Regional Photographer Vicki P. Love.

By Antoinette Porter

Hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and their guests gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union at the University of California, Berkeley, to mark the 100th anniversary of the sorority’s Farwest Region.

Marsh went on to serve as Delta Sigma Theta’s 7th National President, where she launched the sorority’s National Library Project to expand access to books in underserved Black communities in the South. During her presidency, the organization also became a prominent voice in the civil rights movement, lobbying Congress to pass anti-lynching legislation.

Bak in the Bay Area, Marsh devoted her career to advancing educational opportunities, mentoring young people, and strengthening community life. That commitment continues to shape the region, which supports initiatives in education, social justice, and economic development. Current projects include raising scholarship funds for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, voter education campaigns, and health and wellness programs.

A century after its founding, the Farwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta remains active across California and other western states, carrying forward Marsh’s vision of service and advocacy.