With construction of Barsema Hall’s new HAVI Center for Analytics and Technology Lab nearing completion and the grand opening planned for fall 2024, the college is abuzz with excitement about what the new space will bring. No one is looking forward to the new opportunities the lab will bring more than Ying Wang, associate professor in the Department of Operations Management and Information Systems (OM&IS), who has been chosen to be the HAVI Fellow for the college.
“The HAVI Fellow is responsible for fostering thought leadership, facilitating joint research opportunities, and strengthening the partnership between HAVI and the College of Business faculty and students,” she said. “These duties include, but are not limited to, developing cooperative education programs, facilitating employee training and expertise matching, spearheading initiatives such as data visualization and analytics competitions, and coordinating with HAVI staff during their visits to the college for student presentations, guest lectures and the hiring process.”
Wang was the right candidate for this role because of her teaching experience and research interests, which align with HAVI’s core business and values.
“I’ve been actively involved in teaching data analytics and data visualization courses across multiple programs, such as the business analytics minor, management information systems, MSDA, and Global MBA,” Wang said. “My teaching experience and passions closely align with HAVI’s values – nurturing emerging talents in response to the increasing need for intellectual expertise in AI and analytics domains. My courses cover current and in-demand analytics skills required by the industry, which encompasses proficiency in programming, deep learning techniques, and real-world applications, such as AI-driven automation, text analysis and image analysis.”
Additionally, being a global leader in supply chain analytics solutions, HAVI publishes its impact report as a public affirmation of its commitment to sustainable action and its potential to inspire a brighter future through collaboration with stakeholders. One of Wang’s research interests is in sync with HAVI’s mission of social responsibility, aiming to forge a brighter future for individuals, communities and the environment.
“It is a great honor and privilege for me to be selected as a HAVI fellow,” Wang said. “This opportunity allows me to interact with a leading company in logistics optimization. We have been working on various activities to enhance the students’ learning experiences and benefit HAVI. For example, in the spring 2024 semester, we are organizing a HAVI and OM&IS data visualization competition and planning to offer an AI-related workshop for HAVI employees.”
Wang noted that, in the coming fall 2024 semester, the college also hopes to host “HAVI Day,” with HAVI representatives coming to the college to give presentations to students and hire students for internships or permanent positions.
“We are also discussing initiating a co-op program in 2025,” she said. “All these activities provide our students with more experiential learning opportunities, allowing them to interact with HAVI before graduating and enhancing their competitive edge in future job hunting. At the same time, HAVI employees are skilling up, gaining opportunities to deeply know good candidates, and facilitating the hiring process.”
Once the HAVI lab is officially open, Wang will spearhead the organization of various seminars and workshops by inviting practitioners and scholars to share their experiences in the AI and analytics domains, thereby preparing students for the digital transformation era.
In many ways, this new role is an extension of the important work Wang is already doing.
“Management Information Systems is my domain, so OMIS feels like home to me,” she said. “My work here is primarily driven by our students and my colleagues. I relish teaching courses where the content can be quantified and measured objectively. We have excellent students who share a passion for learning technical skills like programming, data analytics and technology management, which makes teaching a joy.
“Additionally, our OM&IS department resembles a family, where everyone works in the same direction and supports one another to overcome challenges. It’s a nurturing environment, and I feel blessed to work with such great people and be part of this outstanding department.”
