Data Science Program to Be Led by Previous Engineering Dean While Director Search Begins

Former College of Engineering Dean John English will lead the interdisciplinary Data Science Program after Director Manuel Rossetti stepped down to focus on faculty duties as a University Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering.

English returned to the faculty of industrial engineering in fall 2023 after serving for two years as vice chancellor for research and innovation following his tenure as dean of engineering 2013 to 2020. It was during his tenure as dean that the Data Science Program was created in response to great industrial demands. In addition, English served as department head for industrial engineering 2000 to 2007.

The deans of the collaborating colleges — including the College of Engineering, Sam M. Walton College of Business and Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences — will begin working toward naming the permanent director of the program.

Rossetti served as the Data Science Program’s inaugural director, leading the program from its establishment in fall 2020. The program produced three graduates in May 2022, 18 in May 2023 and is expected to graduate 46 in May 2025.

The Data Science Program’s unique structure gives students the chance to study under faculty from the three colleges to gain a breadth of experience. Students take a common set of introductory courses, then choose from among 10 specialty concentrations during their third and fourth years. Some specialties include business data analytics, operations analytics and social data analytics.

More than 40 percent of the program’s students are in the Honors College.

College of Engineering Dean Kim Needy praised Rossetti’s leadership.

“I’m grateful to Dr. Rossetti for the tough work and long hours spent launching this program alongside our colleagues in business and arts and sciences, leaving us a growing program whose potential is boundless,” she said. “I also appreciate Dr. English’s willingness to steer the program while we search for a leader whose vision can further grow this area of academic strength.”

Brian E. Raines, dean of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, echoed Needy, thanking both Rossetti and English for their service. He said he also looks forward to the Data Science Program’s next phase, because “this is such a unique program that exemplifies the kinds of interdisciplinary pathways we can create to meet the needs of our students and society.”

“Our hope is that we prepare our data science graduates well and teach them vital critical thinking skills, so they can become creative problem solvers and succeed in jobs and career paths that may not yet even be created,” he added.

English said, “I am pleased and excited to serve in this capacity. At the conception of this program, there was great synergistic collaboration among the colleges and whole-hearted administrative support to make it possible. I am thrilled to see the interest of the deans to take the program to the next level and look forward to receiving their sage advice as we explore our options.”

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.