Dan Woulfin

Work Title and Work Place

• Computational Research Instruction Librarian, Columbia University

Courses Being Taught Presently and/or in the Past

• LBSCI 748 / INFO 7200: Programming

• LBSCI 746 / INFO 7036: Database Concepts and Management

Academic Statement

As a trained historian, a self-taught programmer, and a graduate of Queens College GSLIS, I draw from my interdisciplinary background and practical experiences in my teaching and professional activities. My interests span critical data studies, computer science education, and student-centered pedagogy in the library.

In my capacity as an instruction librarian, I routinely design and lead workshops in programming (Python, R, SQL), computational thinking and machine learning, and project management. I also teach applied practices and give consultations around software licensing, data management, and ethical technology use. Outside of the classroom and library, I’m active in the Northeast chapter of the Association for Information Science and Technology NEASIS&T). I have also presented and led sessions at conferences including ACRL, RDAP Association, and the Digital Pedagogy Institute.

I prioritize embedding computational and data skills within their social and ethical contexts through hands-on projects. This approach carries through across all areas of my work, whether I’m in the classroom, leading library workshops, curating and archiving datasets, or developing software. I firmly believe that computation is for everyone, and that everyone should be equipped to question, use, and shape the technologies that impact our lives.