WiDS 2021

Responsible Machine Learning Conference

Registration is now open for the WiDS-Raleigh @ Institute for Advanced Analytics 2021 Responsible Machine Learning conference to be held June 3-4. The event is completely online and free to attend. Organized by the Institute’s Drs. Shaina Race and Andrea Villanes in cooperation with RTI International, the 2-day conference will coincide with the annual Women in Data Science Worldwide conference hosted by Stanford University.

Class of 2021

Class of ’21 Employment Report

Keeping with tradition, the Institute published its comprehensive Employment Report immediately upon graduation. Despite the challenges caused by the global pandemic, the Class of ’21 matched the Institute’s historical placement average of 92% at graduation over the past 14 years. The average salary reached $97,200 (based on 100% reporting salary data). “Hat’s off to the Class of ’21,” said the Institute’s director, Dr. Michael Rappa. “Students showed incredible resilience, staying focused on their studies throughout the 10-month program in spite of the many obstacles arising from the pandemic. They come away stronger and more ready than ever for the challenges that lie ahead.”

Hat toss

University Earnings Leader, Again

Graduates of the Institute’s Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) continue to lead the University in terms of average earnings (at graduation) for the third consecutive year data has been collected. According the the University’s Office of Institutional Strategy and Analytics, MSA Class of ’20 graduates earned an average starting salary of $102,135, which was 22% higher than the average for all 533 master’s degree candidates graduating in May 2020. (The May 2020 results were only just published after a long delay caused by the pandemic.) The strength of the result Continue reading “University Earnings Leader, Again”

Michael Rappa

Director Honored

The Institute’s founding director, Dr. Michael Rappa, was named by Chief Data Officer (CDO) Magazine as a 2021 Academic Data Leader. The editors thoroughly research top universities in every region to identify the Data Leaders within the academic community. Honored on the list are educators who currently practice and demonstrate a track record of subject matter expertise, combine with a passion for the data community. Continue reading “Director Honored”

Christopher West

West named Associate Professor

Dr. Christopher West has been promoted to the position of Teaching Associate Professor. A member of the Institute since 2015, West earned his Ph.D. from Old Dominion University in 2006. He leads the Institute’s practicum, the experiential learning component of the MSA curriculum. Prior to joining the Institute, West was a USAF engineering officer and faculty member at the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Student Spotlight: Microsoft Practicum

Three months into their eight-month practicum projects, students in NC State’s Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2021 are deep in the throes of data analysis, applying the techniques they are concurrently learning in the classroom to solve their sponsors’ business problems. In the coming weeks, they will work with Institute faculty and staff to practice and fine-tune the midpoint presentations they’ll deliver to their sponsoring organizations in December. Continue reading

Student Spotlight: Duke Health Practicum

NC State’s Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2021 students, in 24 teams, have commenced their eight-month practicum projects. After signing non-disclosure agreements, teams completed kickoff meetings with their sponsor organizations to better understand the context of the business problems they’ve been tasked with solving. Using the scrum system of project management, Continue reading

Dr. Egan Warren joins faculty

Dr. Sarah Egan Warren has joined the Institute faculty as Teaching Assistant Professor. A full-time member of the Institute’s staff since 2015, Dr. Egan Warren completed her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development earlier this year before transitioning to the faculty. Previously, Dr. Egan Warren was the Institute’s head of Technical Communication. In her new role, Dr. Egan Warren will guide the Institute’s efforts in positioning the MSA curriculum as a leader in producing data scientists who are highly effective communicators.

Class of ’20 Placement Update

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which adversely affected the normal placement process for the Class of ’20, the Institute extended its placement process beyond graduation in May and through the summer months. An Addendum to the 2020 Employment Report was released today to summarize the results of the Class of ’20 placement 90-days post post graduation. The Class of ’20 achieved a placement rate of 95%, becoming the thirteenth consecutive cohort to exceed 90% placement since the Institute’s inception in 2007.

Institute Welcomes Class of ’21

The Master of Science in Analytics Class of 2021 arrives this week to begin the summer portion of its 10-month journey. The class is comprised of 125 students selected from a pool of over 1,000 applicants, representing 15 countries of origin and 24 states stretching from Massachusetts to California. The Class of ’21 is the first cohort to matriculate remotely since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Demographic details of the Class of ’21 are provided in our Admissions Report. Continue reading “Institute Welcomes Class of ’21”

2020 Director’s Prize

The Master of Science in Analytics Class of 2020 Director’s Prize was awarded to Sarah Wotus and Jackson Cabell for their outstanding performance during the past year. Both are graduates of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sarah earned her B.S.P.H. degree with High Distinction in 2019, majoring in Biostatistics; Jackson earned his B.S., with High Distinction, in 2019, with a double major in Statistics & Analytics and Economics, Continue reading “2020 Director’s Prize”

2020 Employment Report

The Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) 2020 Employment Report is now available. The Class of ’20 achieved a placement rate at graduation of 79-percent, and the average base salary rose to $99,800—a new record high—with $95,000 for candidates with no prior work experience, and $110,900 for experienced candidates. The Class received 231 offers of employment from 68 employers; 54 employers succeeded in hiring Continue reading “2020 Employment Report”