Kevin Koy

Kevin Koy is the founding Executive Director for the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science and Environment at Berkeley (DSE). Having established the Center from the ground up alongside its founding faculty members and instrumental partners, he now leads its team and ongoing mission to develop impactful computational solutions to critical environmental issues. Throughout his career, he has woven together threads of environmental science, data science, and design to help people and organizations tackle complex challenges.

Kevin’s approach is informed by a deep, interdisciplinary background. His perspective was transformed at the global design firm IDEO, where he was recruited to launch the data science practice for its San Francisco headquarters. There, he learned the power of human-centered design from its pioneers while leading a team of data scientists and designers through engagements with dozens of companies, nonprofits, and government entities. 

This mindset complements his extensive experience building and leading data enabled initiatives, including as the founding Executive Director of the Berkeley Institute for Data Science (BIDS) and Managing Director of Stanford’s Data Science and AI Affiliates Programs. These roles, built upon a foundation in environmental science at UC Berkeley’s Geospatial Innovation Facility (GIF), the American Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Institution, all shape his human-centered, data-driven vision for DSE.