Michael Dunphy - M.S. Applied Political Analytics

Michael Dunphy is a Master's student in the Applied Political Analytics program at the University of Maryland. He is currently a Data Analyst Fellow at the National Democratic Training Committee and Graduate Research Assistant. He is a former Tableau Student Ambassador and is a certified Tableau Specialist.

How did you get started with Tableau?

I was introduced to Tableau in May of 2020 during a data training program done by a progressive political organization called Generation Data. It wasn’t until halfway through that summer that I actually started to build visuals using Tableau and learn more about data visualization. I’m thankful there were many resources available online done by the community that I could go to for the basics as well as get great tips and tricks from the pros, many of which I still use today.

How has learning Tableau impacted your academic track/career?

It has greatly impacted the direction I have gone academically and has helped me so much as I am just starting out in my career. In school, I have been able to use the skills I have developed in Tableau to help with political research done at the University of Maryland. On campus, I have been able to build connections with other data enthusiasts who are just as excited with the platform as I am. Building a portfolio on Tableau Public to show my past work to potential employers has opened so many doors for me as I start my career in data analytics. I knew I wanted to work with data before learning about Tableau, but ever since I was introduced to it, it has re-sparked my passions to go into data analytics since so many questions can be answered relatively easily on the platform. Having experience doing analysis and building visuals using python and R, I know how tedious it can be doing a job like this, but Tableau honestly makes it easy and more importantly fun designing these intricate visuals and dashboards that so many will use to understand the world around them.

Tell me a bit about how you became a student ambassador and the work you did with students!

Being a Tableau Student Ambassador was such an incredible honor. I knew I wanted to share what Tableau had to offer to others since I saw how quick and easy it was to pick up and use, but it was really by chance that I had become an ambassador. I had stumbled across the application to become a student ambassador over the summer last year with just a few days left before the deadline. I filled it out thinking that it would be a long shot for me to become one, but I heard back and was selected! As an ambassador, I was able to connect with several student groups and partner with them on events and workshops to provide students an introduction to Tableau and give them the necessary resources to continue learning more about the platform. (The Tableau Student Guide was one of them!) I was even able to connect with some professionals who use Tableau on a daily basis and allowed them to share with students their insights on how Tableau impacted their careers and how students can develop the skills employers are looking for. Since there is a new Tableau ambassador for my school, I’m taking a more relaxed role this year, but I still help some students who reach out by guiding them through Tableau projects they may have for school or for jobs they are just starting out at. I am grateful for the experience I had as an ambassador and proud to have done what I could to share just how amazing Tableau is!

Do you have any advice or tips for students starting out with Tableau?

I cannot stress this enough. Make use of the resources available online that the Tableau community has curated. There is so much out there that is free and accessible that you can become a master of the platform in no time. My journey with Tableau and development as a data visualizer is all thanks to the amazing people within the community who have shared their insights about Tableau. Take advantage of the #DataFam community and everything it has to offer. Some of my go-to experts that I rely on to learn about new visual types, tips, etc. in Tableau include Andy Kriebel and his blog (he is also co-founder of #MakeoverMonday), Kevin and Ken Flerlage and their blog, and more recently Tim Ngwena, also known as Tableau Tim, and his video tutorials. There are many many others, but these are just a few that I go to to learn more and recommend checking out! 

Another suggestion I give to students as well as professionals just starting out on the platform is to use Tableau Public as much as you can. You can build an impressive portfolio for potential employers as well as go to the site to get inspiration from others. Many workbooks are downloadable so you can find a viz you like, download it, and learn how they built it. So many times have I gone to Tableau Public, saw the Viz of the Day (#VOTD) and a new visual type being used that I had never seen before. I would simply download the workbook, open it in Tableau Desktop and go from there to pick up a new chart type for my data viz toolbox. Just make sure to credit any authors you may take inspiration from!

What is your favorite part about the Tableau Community?

I think my favorite part about the community is just how open everyone is in sharing what they discover on the platform. As I mentioned previously, I relied heavily on the resources available through blogs, the Tableau Community forums, workbooks on Tableau Public, I would not have been as quick to develop my data visualization skills on Tableau as I have without those as a guide. One of the things that anyone I have talked to in this space agrees with (other than that floating is superior to tiled layouts) is just how great the community is in accepting new users and doing everything they can to develop the next generation of data analysts. Everyone really is rooting for your success and I am just so happy to have been able to join and be a part of this community.

Connect with Michael on Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, and Tableau Public.