Faycal Bouguir

Faycal Bouguir is a Data Visualization Consultant and Design Educator who brings a unique interdisciplinary background to his teaching at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. With over 16 years of experience bridging technical analysis and creative design, his educational journey—from organic chemistry research to interactive media design—informs his distinctive approach to making complex health data accessible and impactful.

Since January 2020, Professor Bouguir has designed and taught a comprehensive 14-week graduate course in Data Visualization and Storytelling at the Mailman School of Public Health. The curriculum equips public health professionals with practical skills in transforming health statistics into compelling visual narratives using Tableau Desktop. His teaching methodology emphasizes hands-on learning, guiding students through the complete process of data analysis, visualization design principles, and impactful storytelling techniques. Students learn to uncover meaningful narratives within health statistics and translate complex data into insightful visual stories for diverse audiences. The course culminates in a final project where students develop and present high-impact Tableau dashboards that communicate critical public health insights.

Professor Bouguir's teaching extends across multiple institutions and professional settings. He has taught data visualization and design courses at New York Institute of Technology, Fordham University, and Long Island University, adapting his pedagogy to undergraduate and graduate audiences across business, communication, and media studies programs. As a Tableau Certified Instructor, he has developed and delivered customized training programs for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene through the Region 2 Public Health Training Center, NYC Career Centers, and Fortune 500 companies including Amazon Web Services and UberFreight, empowering over 1,000 professionals to leverage data analytics and visual communication in their work.

His educational background uniquely positions him to bridge technical and creative disciplines. He holds a Master's degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Aix-Marseille III in France, where he conducted research published in Tetrahedron. He later earned a BA (First Class Honours) in Design for Interactive Media from Thames Valley University in London, followed by specialized training in digital typography and desktop publishing at the London College of Communication.

This combination of scientific rigor and design expertise enables Professor Bouguir to teach students not only the technical skills of data visualization but also the critical thinking needed to approach public health data methodically, identify meaningful insights, and communicate findings effectively to lay audiences. He thrives on making complex information accessible through thoughtful design, building bridges between technical analysis and creative expression, and empowering others to tell compelling data stories. He is fluent in French, Spanish, and Portuguese, with conversational proficiency in Italian and Arabic.