Dan Garcia

Dan Garcia is a Teaching Professor in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (CS) department at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on Education (EDUC), with an emphasis on advancing equity through innovative grading policies and computational game theory. He is known for developing the "Beauty and Joy of Computing (BJC)" course, which has been shared with over 1,000 high school teachers. Garcia has received numerous accolades, including being named an ACM Distinguished Educator in 2012 and an ACM Distinguished Speaker in 2019, 2022, and 2025. He has also won all four of the department's computer science teaching awards and the UC Berkeley Distinguished Teaching Award in 2025. His work supports underrepresented students in computer science and promotes inclusive education practices.

Dan Garcia is a computer science education researcher at UC Berkeley, focusing on innovative teaching methods and curriculum development. His work emphasizes making computing accessible, engaging, and relevant to diverse learners. Garcia's research includes the design of educational tools such as Snap!, a visual programming environment, and the development of curricula like CS Principles, which aims to broaden participation in computer science. His publications explore topics such as kinesthetic learning, privacy education, and digital libraries for educational resources. Garcia's contributions highlight the intersection of pedagogy, technology, and equity in computing education.