About
Hi! I’m Richard, a third-year undergraduate from the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, studying CS and Data Science at UC Berkeley. My interests lie at the intersection of data analytics, software engineering, and user-experience design, with a focus on creating accessible, inclusive, and impactful technology. Currently, I work as a Research Assistant at Berkeley Geography, working on building software to make geospatial data on the Pacific Islands more accessible.
I’m also passionate about inclusive STEM education, and I’m dedicated to finding ways to make computing and data science education more inclusive. As an Undergraduate Student Instructor for Data 8, “Foundations of Data Science,” I lead weekly discussions for around 30 students, hold office hours for over 350 students, and guide labs to ensure understanding of Python and Jupyter Notebook. For further details on my teaching experience, please visit the teaching section.
In my free time, I enjoy hiking in the Bay Area, arranging fingerstyle guitar covers, and exploring graphic design through Adobe software. Some of my broader interests include LGBTQ+ advocacy, labor rights, and environmental justice—especially as they relate to uplifting Pacific Islander communities.
I’m always seeking new opportunities to grow in my experience. Please feel free to feel reach out to me via email or LinkedIn!
Teaching
Undergraduate Student Instructor for Data 8, “Foundations of Data Science” (June 2024 – Present)
- Lead sections of 30+ students through weekly labs and discussion sections in Data 8, ”Foundations of Data Science,” using Python and JupyterLab to master programming and data analysis skills through hands-on analysis of diverse
real-world datasets.
- Provide personalized guidance during office hours, ensuring student comprehension of complex topics and facilitating
their success in the course.
- Collaborate closely with professor to align course content with learning objectives, integrating inferential thinking,
computational thinking, and real-world relevance into all instructional materials.
Course materials are available here.
View my Spring ‘25 teaching materials here, or my Fall ‘24 teaching materials here.
Research Assistant Facilitator for Tuskegee Scholars Program (Summer 2024)
- Worked together with a group of 4 Tuskegee students within the Tuskegee Scholars program to explore a particular case study in data focused on mental health outcomes.
- Participated in project supervision, worksheet development, and Python debugging.
Coding Bootcamp Facilitator for Tuskegee Scholars Program (Summer 2024)
- Led programming for a two-week coding bootcamp for the Tuskegee Scholars program, which is modeled off of the first two weeks of CS61A and Data 8 material.
- Met regularly with faculty program directors to ensure the success of students.
Course materials are available here.
Group Tutor for Data 198, “Foundations Scholars” (Spring 2024)
- Provide academic support to students enrolled in the Data Scholars program for historically underrepresented students in Data 8, “Foundations of Data Science,” through a weekly Foundations workshop, dedicated office hours, and exam prep sections.
- Consuted with lead instructors to practice effective pedagogy and refine course materials on a weekly basis.
Course materials are available here.
Academic Intern for Data 8, “Foundations of Data Science” (Fall 2023)
- Provided weekly assistance to 45 students enrolled in Data Scholars program for underrepresented and nontraditional students every week in lab with questions about discussion worksheets, Jupyter Notebook assignments in Python, projects, and other course materials in Data 8.
- Met with a shadow Undergraduate Student Instructor (uGSI) throughout the semester to practice and reflect on personal pedagogy skills and professional development.
Course materials are available here.
Research Interests
- Data science pedagogy: Designing inclusive, equity-focused data science education that centers accessibility, ethics, and critical thinking—especially for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
- GIS and spatial analysis in the Pacific: Using geospatial tools to surface stories, challenges, and opportunities within Pacific Islander communities. I’m especially interested in mapping projects that preserve cultural narratives and inform sustainable policy.
- Data disaggregation and visibility: Advocating for the disaggregation of Pacific Islander data to ensure our communities are accurately represented in national datasets across health, education, and infrastructure.
Projects
This section is under construction.
-
ML
Language: Python (Pandas)
November 2023
-
EDA
Language: Python (Pandas)
October 2023
-
Data Structures
Language: Java
March 2023
-
Data Analysis
Language: Python
February 2023
Research Positions
- Developing an interactive geospatial web application to visualize climate change and colonial impacts on Pacific Islander communities.
- Designing backend systems (Python, Flask, PostgreSQL) and implementing REST/GraphQL APIs to support real-time map overlays.
- Integrating Indigenous knowledge frameworks and historical maps to ensure culturally-informed, scalable tools for researchers and policymakers.
- Focused on accessibility, sustainability, and the use of spatial data to inform advocacy and community planning across the Pacific.
- Co-developed a GIS platform to explore energy burden and environmental injustice across California.
- Used ArcGIS, Pandas, and public datasets to map disparities by race, income, and eviction risk, combining spatial and demographic data.
- Conducted 15+ stakeholder interviews to shape platform features, ensuring accessibility and alignment with community needs.
- Delivered the tool to advocacy groups supporting equitable energy policy and public transparency.
Coursework
Major Courses
Pedagogy Courses
- CS 375: Teaching Techniques for Computer Science
- DATA 198: Directed Group Studies for Advanced Undergraduates
Elective Courses
- AFRICAM 5A: African American Life and Culture in the United States
- COGSCI N1: Introduction to Cognitive Science
- COGSCI 127: Cognitive Neuroscience
- ESPM 50AC: Introduction to Culture and Natural Resource Management
- NUSCTX 10: Introduction to Human Nutrition
- POLISCI 5: International Relations
