Adrián García Hernández is the inaugural recipient of the JPMorgan Columbia University Data Science Institute Master’s Diversity Fellowship. He brings a diverse background in environmental science, natural resource management, and sustainable design to the M.S. in Data Science program.

“I hope to combine my love for the built and natural environment with my passion for research and data to create a positive impact in our world,” García Hernández said. “I think data science is applicable to a lot of things—you can use it for finance, for environmental science—and you can also use it to empower the voices of people who are rarely heard.”

García Hernández was born in Mexico and moved to California as a teen. Initially undocumented, he gained U.S. citizenship at age 18 and studied forestry, natural resource management, and sustainable environmental design at the University of California, Berkeley.

He was introduced to the power of data science and data storytelling as a Haas Scholar, during which he completed an independent research project on the effects of tourism and development on equity and social inclusion in the rural communities of Jalisco, Mexico. “By interviewing these people I was able to gather the things that they cared about, and I learned that, through data, I had the opportunity to make their voices heard, and to add value to those voices.”

Next, García Hernández participated in an environmental health research program in Australia and the Solomon Islands. There, he investigated the prevalence of plastic and solid waste pollution in coastal areas, and he learned that a lot of the garbage was not generated by residents. It came via ocean currents and washed up on their shores.

“From my project in Mexico, I got the sense that data matters, and from the project in the Solomon Islands, I learned that data is important in many different contexts. It touches on social issues and environmental issues,” García Hernández explained. “I understood that learning how to manage and use [data] would expand my horizons in terms of what my future career would be.”

García Hernández also served as a mentor and community advocate through UC Berkeley’s Youth Empowerment Program, which partnered with the Central American Refugee Committee of Oakland to provide mentorship to refugee children. “I identified with these kids; I have a similar background,” he said. “A lot of them had no idea of what was possible, how far they could go. I wanted to help change the narrative, serve as an example of what was possible.”

García Hernández said he is grateful for the JPMorgan fellowship because it will allow him to focus on his studies. “I had to work throughout my undergraduate program, so I’m very excited to be able to prioritize my coursework, expand some of the technical skills that I need, participate in the internship with JPMorgan, and explore all the other connections that Columbia has to offer.” 

— Karina Alexanyan, Ph.D.