Introducing the Founders of UNC Charlotte’s School of Data Science
UNC Charlotte’s School of Data Science has raised more than $100,000 through its Founding Members program to support the educational and research needs of the School. With the recent launch of Bachelor’s of Science in Data Science degree, much of the funding will assist students and propel the program forward for years to come.
“The School of Data Science is one of the first in its space, possessing the unique opportunity to become a leader in data science education across the region,” said Shikha Kashyap, CTO and founding partner for Syntelli Solutions. “Not only will it lead the way in data science education, but it will also enable data scientists with the critical thinking skills to use data in an ethical manner.”
The funding will be used to establish endowed scholarships, support recruitment efforts, provide emergency funding for students, and to provide undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities for personal and professional development.
“Personally, I’d like to see the funding used to remove any barriers for entry for students from underrepresented groups,” said Doug Hague, executive director for the School of Data Science. “We’ve already matched our undergraduate admissions requirements to that of the University, the next step is to financially support those students who would not otherwise be able to afford a four-year institution.”
The Founding Members program received tremendous support from long-time advocates and valued industry partners of the School of Data Science.
Individual members include:
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Naras Eechambadi, CEO, Quaero
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Shikha Kashyap, CTO and Founding Partner, Syntelli Solutions
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Doug Jennings, Vice President, Data, Analytics and Customer Insights, Lowe’s Inc.
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Amaresh Tripathy, Senior Vice President and Global Business Leader, Genpact
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Doug Hague: Executive Director, UNC Charlotte’s School of Data Science
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Tom Fisher: Executive Advisor and Senior Vice President, Business Development, SAS
Corporate members include:
“I’ve been associated with the School of Data Science since its original inception as the Data Science Initiative. Becoming a founding member felt like a natural next step in continuing my support of the School,” said Naras Eechambadi, chief executive officer for Quaero. “Data science is a critical area of study that will impact our ability to solve problems in a wide range of fields. I’m excited to see a strong presence of data scientists within the Charlotte region.”
Anyone interested in becoming a founding member of the School of Data Science should contact Doug Hague, Executive Director for the School of Data Science.
About the School of Data Science
The School of Data Science (SDS) at UNC Charlotte is an industry-university partnership, led by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Belk College of Business, the College of Health and Human Services, and the College of Computing and Informatics.