Looking to hire a data analytics professional in 2013? The Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2013 resume book is now available! Prospective employers interested in reviewing 80 resumes of MSA candidates graduating in May, should please contact us to obtain a copy. The Institute will host employer information sessions through January, and welcomes employers to secure dates for onsite interviews during the month of February. You can also download the MSA Student Profile Book to learn more about our students.
Author: Michael Rappa
Director Speaks on Big Data Talent Shortage
The Institute’s director, Dr. Michael Rappa, spoke today in Washington, DC with senior IT executives across Federal agencies and state government about the looming talent shortage in Big Data. The panel included Jeff Butler, Director, Research Databases, with the Internal Revenue Service and Micheline Casey, former Chief Data Officer, State of Colorado. This past summer Dr. Rappa served as academic co-chair of TechAmerica Foundation’s Big Data Commission, which examined strategies for transforming government through the application of Big Data.
MSA Applications Rise Sharply
The Institute is now accepting applications for the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2014—to become the seventh cohort of students admitted to the Institute since its founding in 2007. We anticipate another round of well-qualified applicants seeking to secure one of 80 available seats. Although its still early in the process, applications submitted to date are up 286-percent and application starts are up 87-percent over the same period last year. Prospective students are encouraged to apply early. Admission decisions will be made on a rolling basis between January and April. The Institute will hold its next MSA information session on November 12.
MSA Receives High Praise
Writing in the October issue of Harvard Business Review, Thomas H. Davenport and D.J. Patil give the Institute’s groundbreaking Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree program high praise as one of only a few sources of talent with proven strengths alongside Stanford, MIT, Berkeley, Harvard, and Carnegie Mellon. The HBR special issue on “Big Data” highlights the looming shortage of analytics professionals Continue reading “MSA Receives High Praise”
Big Data Commission Releases Report
The key to seizing on the Big Data opportunity lies in educating and training the workforce around analytics and data science, according to a new report released today by the TechAmerica Foundation’s Big Data Commission. The report, “Demystifying Big Data: A Practical Guide to Transforming the Business of Government,” provides the government with a comprehensive roadmap to using Big Data to better serve the American people. The Institute’s director, Dr. Michael Rappa, who served as Academic Co-chair of the commission, stated “The value of big data lies in our ability to extract insights and make better decisions. The acute shortage of analytics professionals and data-savvy managers will be addressed most successfully through creative partnerships between industry, government and universities. There are several efforts underway, but we must intensify and accelerate the national investment in proven models.” Continue reading “Big Data Commission Releases Report”
Practicum Sponsors Announced
The Institute is pleased to announce its practicum sponsors for the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2013. The projects were selected from a record number of proposal submissions (40). Among the organizations sponsoring projects this year there are several returning from previous years as well as a host of new sponsors, including industry leading firms from across the country, and several state and federal government agencies. Projects come from a wide variety of areas including agriculture, education, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, retail, sports, and telecommunications. This year’s sponsors are: Continue reading “Practicum Sponsors Announced”
Director Keynotes at Wake Forest B-School
The Institute’s director, Dr. Michael Rappa, traveled to historic Pinehurst Resort in the North Carolina Sandhills today at the invitation of the Wake Forest University faculty to be the guest speaker at the annual retreat of the School of Business. Drawing on his experience launching the Master of Science in Analytics, Dr. Rappa spoke about the Continue reading “Director Keynotes at Wake Forest B-School”
Institute Opens New Facility
This week the Institute celebrates the opening of its new addition on the fourth floor of the Venture 2 Building. The 6,500 square foot expansion includes offices, student workspaces, computing facilities, and a modern 84-seat classroom to accommodate the recent growth in enrollment in the Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) degree program.
Wisner Awarded Ott Scholarship
Congratulations to Emily Wisner, Master of Science in Analytics (MSA) Class of 2013, who has been awarded the Ellis R. Ott Scholarship for Applied Statistics and Quality Management from the Statistics Division of the American Society for Quality (ASQ). Wisner is a 2011 valedictorian and summa cum laude B.S. graduate of NC State University, where she majored in Statistics and minored in Mathematics and Biological Sciences.
Director Speaks at Big Data Symposium
The Institute’s director, Dr. Michael Rappa, spoke about educating data professionals at the National Research Council (NRC) Symposium on Digital Curation in the Era of Big Data, held today in Washington, DC. The NRC Board on Research Data and Information is conducting a consensus study to understand the trends in workforce needs and educational requirements for careers in the active management and enhancement of digital information assets for current and future use. The study is sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Science Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.