Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider

For More Information

• DISCOVERY: Foundations of AI and Data Science
• d7 Research Lab
• Faculty Website

Biography

Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider directs the d7 Research Lab within the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His group focuses on data visualization, scalable educational technology, and computational platforms with measurable societal impact. Fagen-Ulmschneider's systems have driven public data transparency during national crises, guided state-level policy responses, and engaged over 10 million readers worldwide. Alongside his lab's systems research, he pioneers scalable, open-access computational education through platforms including "DISCOVERY: Foundations in AI and Data Science" and Coursera, serving over 150,000 global learners.

Academic Positions

• Teaching Professor, Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2024 - Present
• Affiliate, Siebel Center for Design, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2026 - Present
• Affiliate, Discovery Partners Institute, University of Illinois System, 2024 - Present
• Affiliate, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2024 - Present
• Faculty Fellow, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2021 - Present
• Affiliate, Game Studies and Design, School of Information Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2021 - Present
• Affiliate, Department of Statistics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2019 - Present

Research Interests

• Data Visualization
• Data Science
• Data Visualization Systems

Teaching Honors

• Everitt Award for Teaching Excellence, Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2026)
• Student Success Impact Award Honorable Mention, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2025)
• Rose Award for Teaching Excellence, Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2023)
• Faculty Fellow, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2021)
• Provost's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2020)
• Scott H. Fisher Computer Science Teaching Award, Department of Computer Science at The University of Illinois (2019)
• Chi Omega's Outstanding Faculty Award, Chi Omega chapter at The University of Illinois (2018)
• Collins Award for Innovative Teaching, Grainger College of Engineering at The University of Illinois (2017)
• Invited Guest: National Academy of Engineering's Frontiers of Engineering Education (2016)