Students turn data into community impact

The Office of Connected Learning fosters high-impact experiences that contribute to innovative and influential teaching, learning and research.

Students in the “Data for Public Good” program, for example, recently worked with the Latino Educational Training Institute, a nonprofit looking to expand its services in Everett. Their project was to analyze data that would help guide the organization’s decisions on resource distribution for Latino communities.

The students focused on healthcare access mapping, economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and eviction prevention and housing stability.

Sabrina Prestes Oliveira, a Data Visualization major, found the experience eye-opening. “This wasn’t just a class project,” she said, “It was real work with real impact.”

The work even inspired her to pursue a Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship that allowed her to continue her work with LETI, researching how data can empower underrepresented communities.

Beyond research, the Data for Public Good students worked closely with faculty mentors who guided them through problem-solving challenges. Professors Jin-Kyu Jung, Baaska Anderson and Sue Kraemer helped students navigate complex datasets and develop meaningful insights.

And by working with their professors as collaborators, rather than just as instructors, the students gained new perspectives on how to apply their education beyond the classroom.

Meet Sabrina

Data for Public Good is just one part of Sabrina’s UW Bothell experience. In this short video, she shares more about herself and her path as a student.

Support students like Sabrina through the UW Bothell Connected Learning Fund.