- University News Archive - Vlogý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/acxiom/ Vlogý Little Rock Tue, 15 Mar 2022 12:46:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Talburt Recognized as Leading Data Academic Leader /news-archive/2022/03/15/talburt-leading-data-academic-leader/ Tue, 15 Mar 2022 12:46:04 +0000 /news/?p=81106 ... Talburt Recognized as Leading Data Academic Leader]]> CDO (Chief Data Officer) Magazine announced Talburt, professor of information science and Acxiom chair of information quality, as a member of its . “I feel very honored to be named to such a select group of individuals,” Talburt said. “I believe the reason I was named is primarily because Vlogý Little Rock was willing to take a chance in 2006, go against the normal academic trends, and establish a graduate program in information quality in collaboration with MIT. This has given our program great exposure and growing enrollments. I am happy that data has come into parity with programming and is no longer considered a second-class citizen in the world of information technology.” The Leading Data Academic Leaders List 2022 honors great academic leaders, introducing them on a global platform where they share their insights and work, highlighting their significant successes in the previous year, the challenges they faced, and their aspirations and goals for 2022. Talburt has been instrumental in building the Information Quality Graduate Program at Vlogý Little Rock. The program includes the graduate certificate in information quality, the M.S. in information quality, and the Ph.D. in integrated computing with an emphasis in information quality. At Vlogý Little Rock, he also serves as executive director of the Center for Advanced Research in Entity Resolution and Information Quality and coordinator of the Ph.D. program in computer and information sciences. “The information quality, information science, and computer science graduate programs are experiencing dramatic growth,” he said. “I believe the university’s future is in research and graduate studies. We will always have an obligation to serve our undergraduate students, but our future growth will come at the graduate level. We are already recognized as the leading institution in Information Quality graduate education.” U.S. News & World Report has ranked Vlogý Little Rock 19th in its ranking of in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Talburt first joined Vlogý Little Rock in 1983 as a professor in the newly formed Department of Computer Science, which he chaired from 1986-1993. He left the university in 1995 to lead a research and development unit at Acxiom, where he learned about the power and value of data. In 2005, Talburt returned to Vlogý Little Rock in the newly formed Information Science Department as the Acxiom Chair of Information Quality. “I believe the next big area of focus in IT will be around metadata, i.e., data describing other data,” Talburt said. “Well-curated and managed metadata will be the key to data process automation and the ability for organizations to exercise authority and control over their data assets. How can you effectively use your data to create value if you don’t know what data you have and what’s in it? This is the role of metadata, and I think it will be the next big area of research and development. The university is already involved in a major NSF grant investigating ways to automate data curation (processing) and data governance.” You can read the full article on .]]> Vlogý Little Rock, Forge Institute, and VlogýPB Announce Creation of Consortium for Cyber Innovation /news-archive/2021/12/03/consortium-for-cyber-innovation/ Fri, 03 Dec 2021 14:04:49 +0000 /news/?p=80515 ... Vlogý Little Rock, Forge Institute, and VlogýPB Announce Creation of Consortium for Cyber Innovation]]> The consortium will develop and align cyber education and grow applied research capabilities throughout the state. The consortium partners will collaborate on workforce development, research, and innovation to create a strategic industry cluster in emerging technologies that will support national defense and enhance Arkansas as a Cyber Defense State and cybersecurity hub. “Vlogý Little Rock is proud to join the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the Forge Institute in an effort to scale and leverage resources towards workforce development, research, and innovation in cyber technologies,” Vlogý Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale said. “Together, we are building the future of our state as we pursue the common goal of ensuring national security through strategic and collaborative workforce development, research, and innovation.” The Forge Institute develops capabilities to solve broad challenges in emerging technology, cybersecurity, and national security. Its experienced cyber operators and leadership team are leveraging their extensive national network to promote workforce training and research collaborations by joining forces with the academic resources at Vlogý Little Rock and VlogýPB. “The Consortium for Cyber Innovation is monumental to developing our high-tech workforce and developing new capabilities to prevent, detect, and mitigate emerging technology risks to businesses, including our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said Lee Watson, CEO of the Forge Institute. “Both campuses already have outstanding undergraduate and graduate computer science programs, cybersecurity resources, and world-class faculty. We’re excited to lend our expertise to this very important endeavor which will help fill the coming 3.4 million job gap.” Cybercrime is a growing threat that is expected to cost the world more than $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, according to Watson. This increase in cyberattacks is expected to open 3.4 cybersecurity positions in the next few years. There are already 1,400 open positions in Arkansas, and more than 467,000 open positions in cybersecurity in the U.S., Watson said. This collaboration expands an existing successful collaboration between Vlogý Little Rock and Forge Institute. Students who complete the Forge Institute’s IT/Cyber Fundamentals professional development course can apply to receive three credit hours in Vlogý Little Rock’s recently launched bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity. This recognition of learning outside of higher education is a bold step towards how colleges and universities can modernize their curricula to meet the needs of today’s students and industry. “We’re extremely excited to build this collaboration with Forge Institute,” said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School at Vlogý Little Rock. “We view cybersecurity as an important field of study for our students, and the expertise Forge Institute lends offers a real-world perspective that can’t be simulated in the classroom.” The CCI builds on existing partnerships among the Forge Institute, Vlogý Little Rock, and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville (U of A) that have already resulted in National Security Agency (NSA)-funded academic training and research programs. This includes the GenCyber summer camp for 7-12 graders, the Healthcare Cybersecurity Certification research project, and a new graduate certificate in cybersecurity education. Congressman French Hill said the creation of the CCI is a giant step in making Arkansas more competitive in cyber innovation, and that he is looking forward to following the consortium’s continued growth and success.
Dr. Al Baker, Vlogý Little Rock Comuter Science Chair, announces a collaboration with Vlogý Little Rock, Vlogý Pine Bluff and the Forge Institute to establish the Consortium for Cyber Innovation with the purpose of developing and aligning cyber education and growing applied research capabilities in the state. Photo by Ben Krain.

Dr. Al Baker, Vlogý Little Rock computer science chair, discusses a collaboration with VlogýPB and the Forge Institute to establish the Consortium for Cyber Innovation with the purpose of developing and aligning cyber education and growing applied research capabilities in the state. Photo by Ben Krain.

“The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff have taken steps to create a nurturing environment to promote computer science and cyber innovation,” Congressman Hill said. “This collaboration will take their commitment one step further.” Future research projects will include developing next-generation artificial intelligence capabilities to manage cybersecurity threats to both critical infrastructure and military and national defense networks. Advanced machine learning technologies will increase efficiency and expand near-term industry use of readily-available quantum computing capabilities. The CCI also plans to create a Strategic Initiative Office that will allow the consortium to obtain and manage large-scale federal funding for creating a sustainable network of education and research efforts in emerging technology and national defense. “As our state’s land grant, Historically Black University, VlogýPB looks to contribute to the CCI’s strategic initiatives in a number of ways,” VlogýPB Chancellor Laurence Alexander said. “Our expectation is that our university’s priorities of expanding computer education and the cyber workforce will lead to a more diverse industry workforce, reaching many of our underrepresented population. As such, the consortium will help build regional capacity to support economic growth and development across various industry sectors as the state recovers from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Industry partners who join the CCI can help in a number of ways, Watson said. They can hire new talent, especially Arkansas graduates, mentor students, bring in interns, help fund student research, and advise educators who are developing classes. David McCoy, principal security analyst, incident response commander, and head of forensics and investigation at Acxiom, a data management, data science, and privacy technology company, represented Acxiom as a founding industry partner. “I’m extremely honored to represent Acxiom in this effort to join these different entities together,” McCoy said. “The industry has been growing, to say the least, and to the point where you need formal tracks to get into what I do. We are getting into more formal education programs, which is going to be amazing, not only to the state of Arkansas but to the United States. Acxiom is super excited to join into this collaboration across industry’s public and private sectors sharing information, which is something we all need to do because the threats are real.” Globally, cybersecurity has become a trillion dollar industry with career opportunities open to thousands of Arkansans. Because of the state’s deep experience with data management, logistics, fintech, and other data-driven industries, Arkansas is well positioned to become a rallying point for the nation’s cybersecurity efforts. These opportunities produce good paying jobs for Arkansans. “Vlogý Little Rock is committed to growing a talented workforce of highly skilled cyber professionals in Central Arkansas,” Drale said. “Directly related to that effort is the applied research of our nationally recognized faculty in cybersecurity, including research on social media threats by our Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies. This collaboration sets the stage for additional partnerships and initiatives, and that will establish Arkansas as a national leader in cybersecurity and related emerging technologies.”]]> Talburt, Wang named to 2021 List of Leading Academic Data Leaders /news-archive/2021/08/20/talburt-wang-data-leaders/ Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:14:02 +0000 /news/?p=78263 ... Talburt, Wang named to 2021 List of Leading Academic Data Leaders]]> Two professors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock have been recognized as some of this year’s top academic data leaders in the U.S. and Canada. Chief Data Officer Magazine announced Dr. John Talburt, professor of information science and Acxiom chair of information quality, and Dr. Richard Wang, founder and executive director of the Institute for Chief Data Officers at Vlogý Little Rock and director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Chief Data Officer and Information Quality Program at MIT, as members of its . “These outstanding academic professionals are leading the way with innovative ideas leveraging data and analytics,” Chief Data Officers (CDO) Magazine stated. “They are using their talents to provide true value and real world results. We are proud to highlight their accomplishments and want to be a catalyst to advance opportunities in the data and analytic field.” Talburt has been instrumental in building the Information Quality Graduate Program at Vlogý Little Rock. The program includes the graduate certificate in information quality, the M.S. in information quality, and the Ph.D. in integrated computing with an emphasis in information quality. He serves as the coordinator for Information Quality Graduate Programs and is the primary advisor for information quality graduate students. “It was a great honor for me to be listed along with so many other highly esteemed members of the academic community,” Talburt said. “My hope is I can enrich the education and training of the students in our Information Quality Graduate Program through the practical experience I have gained in working with Chief Data Officers and other data leaders in government and industry.” Wang is a pioneer and leader in the research and practice of chief data officers and has put the term information quality on the intellectual map with myriad publications. He has been instrumental in the establishment of the Ph.D. and Master of Science in information quality degree programs at Vlogý Little Rock, serving as a visiting professor of information quality from 2005 to 2009 at Vlogý Little Rock. In 2016, he founded the Institute for Chief Data Officers at Vlogý Little Rock. With the establishment of this institute, Wang is taking the CDO education to an unprecedented level of excellence and competency and has recently launched the first online fundamental course for chief data officers in the world. “It was a privilege to pioneer the Chief Data Officer field,” Wang said. “With the unreserved support from Dean Lawrence Whitman and Dr. Liz Pierce, I have launched the first online CDO Fundamental course in the world. My hope is to leverage this new online CDO course to recruit industry practitioners around the world to be admitted to the Vlogý Little Rock’s MSIQ/GC graduate program, to increase the visibility and reputation of Vlogý Little Rock, and overtime increase enrollment.”]]> Acxiom Awards 3 Vlogý Little Rock Students Diversity Scholarships /news-archive/2021/05/25/axciom-diversity-scholars/ Tue, 25 May 2021 14:17:08 +0000 /news/?p=79121 ... Acxiom Awards 3 Vlogý Little Rock Students Diversity Scholarships]]> Three University of Arkansas at Little Rock students have been selected as nationwide winners of Acxiom’s Diversity Scholarship Program. The Vlogý Little Rock student winners include Adeola Adesoba, a graduate student in information science from Nigeria, Grace Crossette-Thambiah, a doctoral student in computer and information science specializing in data quality from Los Angeles, and Gabrielle Wilber, a junior business information systems major from Little Rock. The Acxiom initiative offers $5,000 scholarships to U.S.-based students from diverse backgrounds who are enrolled in a full-time post-secondary technology degree program. The program encourages women, veterans, minorities and individuals with a disability to apply for scholarships to support the next generation of technology talent. “We congratulate our scholarship recipients on this exciting accomplishment,” said Acxiom CEO Chad Engelgau. “This scholarship program represents Acxiom’s continued commitment to helping the next generation of leaders pursue their dreams through computer science and information technology careers. Our goal is to help foster a more diverse pool of qualified talent, and we look forward to the innovative contributions these students will make to our industry.” One of the Vlogý Little Rock winners, Wilber, plans to work in the computer science industry after she graduates in the fall 2020 semester. “I am incredibly grateful for being awarded a scholarship from Acxiom, an industry-leading company in the tech field,” Wilber said. “Being awarded this scholarship will only further motivate me towards achieving my goals in my future business/computer science career.” After earning her master’s degree in December, Adesoba plans to work as a data scientist and machine learning engineer as well as earn a Ph.D. to contribute to research efforts in technology. “Winning Acxiom’s Diversity Scholarship depicts how far I have come on my quest in information technology including a recognition of my career and academic plans,” Adesoba said. “I would like to thank Acxiom for recognizing me as a next-generation leader that could make an impact in tech and my program advisor, Dr. John Talburt, for his constant support. I hope anyone will read my story and be inspired to work hard and believe in themselves.” Crossette-Thambiah said that winning the scholarship will further her educational goals as well as provide her with a scholarship where she will learn more about data quality management. “My ambition is to bridge the gap among women of color in academia and technology,” Crossette-Thambiah said. “I recognize the value that targeted data represents in identifying needs and opportunitiesto help vulnerable populations.As the world embarks upon the fourthindustrial revolution of data analytics, there are prospects to promote preventative care through analytics and resolve societal issues. In the future, I hope to utilize my skill set to improve the lives of indigent communities through informed data. I firmly believe in making the worlda better place is imperative to the successand advancement of humanity. Big or small, every little step helps. In the ninth year of Acxiom’s Diversity Scholarship Program, it has expanded to provide better future opportunities for the winners. In addition to being awarded a scholarship, willing recipients were offered internships at Acxiom this summer. Diversity scholarship recipients are selected based on their ability to demonstrate a combination of academic achievement, field of study, and professional interest as it relates to Acxiom’s business needs. “Acxiom believes that diversity sparks innovation and that an inclusive workplace environment encourages everyone to share their unique perspectives and skills,” said Mary Ward, chief people officer at Acxiom. “We are extremely proud to continue the tradition of this important program.”]]> Seheli awarded Acxiom Diversity Scholarship /news-archive/2020/01/17/seheli-acxiom-diversity-scholarship/ Fri, 17 Jan 2020 17:10:53 +0000 /news/?p=76012 ... Seheli awarded Acxiom Diversity Scholarship]]> A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has been selected as one of the 10 nationwide winners of a $5,000 scholarship from Acxiom’s Diversity Scholarship Program. Rehnuma Seheli, a business information systems graduate student at Vlogý Little Rock, is finishing up her last semester and will graduate with her master’s degree in May. A native of Bangladesh, Seheli completed a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in physics before moving to the U.S. in 2015. “I’ve always been attracted toward math and science, but my interests have moved to information science and technology since I moved to the United States,” Seheli said. “I’ve seen how developed countries stay ahead in business using advanced data techniques, and that is why I wanted to do a master’s degree. You need people who understand information technology as well as business. I think this is the most valuable degree you can do nowadays.” This scholarship offers $5,000 to U.S.-based students from diverse backgrounds who are enrolled in a full-time post-secondary degree program such as computer science, computer information systems, management information systems, information quality, information systems, engineering, mathematics and statistics, or related areas of study. “We congratulate our scholarship recipients on this exciting accomplishment,” Acxiom CEO Dennis Self said. “This scholarship program represents Acxiom’s continued commitment to helping the next generation of leaders pursue their dreams through computer science and information technology careers. Our goal is to provide opportunities for students to obtain future success and help foster a more diverse pool of qualified talent, which will benefit the marketing and technology industries for many years.” This is the Acxiom Diversity Scholarship Program’s eighth year. Diversity scholarship recipients are selected based on their ability to demonstrate a combination of academic achievement, field of study aimed at information technology, and professional interest as it relates to Acxiom’s business needs. “Acxiom believes that diversity sparks innovation and that an inclusive workplace environment encourages everyone to share their unique perspectives and skills,” said Mary Ward, chief people officer at Acxiom. “Our Diversity Scholarship Program takes Acxiom’s values into the community by supporting the goals of brilliant future leaders. We look forward to the contributions these students will make to our industry.” Seheli is thankful for the scholarship, which is helping her break into a field she said would be difficult to enter in her native country. “I’m grateful for the scholarship. In Bangladesh, women in the information technology industry is not common,” she said. “When I came to the U.S., my path changed completely. There are so many opportunities in the IT industry here. I want to encourage more students from Asia to come and get their degrees in information technology.” Seheli joined Vlogý Little Rock in 2018. She has worked as a conference services assistant and a graduate assistant in health services until December 2019, when she moved to Champaign, Illinois, with her husband and will complete her final semester online. While at Vlogý Little Rock, she was a member of the Association of Information Systems. Last summer, she completed an information technology and business analytics internship with Windstream that she loved and plans to look for a similar full-time position after graduation. ]]> Founding Dean Dr. Mary Good left lasting legacy in Arkansas /news-archive/2019/11/20/founding-dean-mary-good/ Wed, 20 Nov 2019 23:10:08 +0000 /news/?p=75787 ... Founding Dean Dr. Mary Good left lasting legacy in Arkansas]]> Dr. Mary Lowe Good, founding dean of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Technology (EIT) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 20, in her sleep. Funeral services will be Nov. 25 and 26 at Dr. Good served as dean since the college’s founding in 1999 until her retirement in June 2011. She came to the university as a person with national stature in higher education, industry and government—a 46-year career in academia, corporate America, and public service. She served in scientific capacities in the administrations of four American presidents, , , , and . Dr. Good, with her shock of white hair, sensible shoes and commanding presence, gained a reputation as a no-nonsense dynamo who told legislators, governors, and a U.S. President that Arkansas’ future in the 21st century required a world-class engineering facility in the capital city and home-grown students to fill its classes. With her impressive educational and career experience, it was no wonder that she left a lasting impact on the university, Little Rock, and the state. Under her leadership, EIT developed a national reputation for excellence for assembling a first-class faculty and graduates prepared to succeed in high-paying engineering and technology jobs. This created a major positive impact on economic development in central Arkansas. “We have been very fortunate to have the benefit of Dr. Good’s leadership in establishing our College of Engineering and Information Technology,” said Vlogý Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale. “She brought us top-rated talent, industry and government partnerships, and a brilliant vision of what we could become as a center for research and education in the engineering field. “The wonderful thing about Mary is that she took her role very seriously and made a personal connection with everyone affiliated with the college, from high ranking government sponsors to prospective students and families from remote locations. Creating success was personal for Mary and she never let us down. We will really miss her.” Former President Bill Clinton, keynote speaker at the college’s 10th anniversary gala on Nov. 19, 2009, told a sold-out crowd at the Jack Stephens Center that the decision by Vlogý Little Rock leaders to entice internationally renowned chemist Mary L. Good to be the inaugural dean of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology will have a profound impact on the state of Arkansas. “I think 50 years from now, when you look back, you might think that the establishment of the College of Engineering and Information Technology and the luring of this astonishing woman into this job may wind up being the most significant thing this institution has done since its creation,” Clinton said. Honorary chairs for the gala were Thomas “Mack” McLarty, former White House chief-of-staff, and retired Acxiom chief executive officer Charles Morgan. Proceeds from the $250-a-plate gala helped to support the college. More than 500 local, state, and national business and scientific leaders attended the reception and dinner in the Jack Stephens Center, just a block from the new six-story, state-of-the-art EIT building that would open in spring 2010. Dr. Good led the development of the EIT curriculum with input from area engineering and technology employers, including Acxiom, Southwest Power Pool, and Verizon Wireless, and SAIC. Over the years, these companies have supported the college’s programs and students through funding research and facilities and hiring students for both internships and career employment.

Dr. Mary Good (center) at the dedication of the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology in 2010.

In 2010, the Systems Engineering program was the top-ranked engineering program at a public university in the South by U.S. News & World Report. In 2012, Dr. Good was one of five national dignitaries in education honored at the inauguration of the new U.S. News STEM Leadership Hall of Fame. She had a special interest in recruiting young women into engineering and other STEM careers through the Arkansas Women’s Foundation program, Girls of Promise. At the time of Mary’s retirement, Dr. Joel Anderson said, “In 10 years, she took EIT from concept to exceptional reality. With her unmistakable intellectual strength and well-known inability to take no for an answer, this hard-charging Arkansas woman was the ideal choice to serve as founding dean of EIT.” Following retirement, Mary continued to serve as special advisor for economic development for Dr. Anderson. She donated her papers to the Vlogý Little Rock Center for History and Culture. Archivists are currently processing her collection. A former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Dr. Good was the recipient of many awards, including the Vannevar Bush Award, the National Science Foundation’s highest honor; the National Science Foundation Distinguished Service medal; the American Chemical Society Priestley Medal, and was the sixth annual Heinz Award Winner. She was inducted in the in 2015. Her amazing life and career are chronicled on and . The Arkansas Education Television Network created this about Dr. Good when the network honored her as one of AETN’s Men and Women of Distinction which recognized Arkansans who have made a profound effect on the development of the state. ]]> Four Vlogý Little Rock students receive Acxiom scholarship awards /news-archive/2019/01/25/acxiom-scholarships/ Fri, 25 Jan 2019 15:56:45 +0000 /news/?p=73218 ... Four Vlogý Little Rock students receive Acxiom scholarship awards]]> recently awarded $5,000 scholarships to the nine winners in the company’s Diversity Scholarship Program, and four of the winners are students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. This initiative offers $5,000 scholarships to U.S.-based students from diverse backgrounds who are enrolled in a full-time post-secondary degree program such as computer science, computer information systems, management information systems, information quality, information systems, engineering, mathematics and statistics or related areas of study. The Vlogý Little rock recipients include the following: “We congratulate our scholarship recipients on this exciting achievement,” said Acxiom CEO Dennis Self. “Acxiom is passionate about helping the next generation of leaders pursue their dreams through computer science and information technology careers. Our support positions them for future success and helps foster a more diverse pool of qualified talent, which will benefit the marketing and technology industries for years to come.” This is the Acxiom Diversity Scholarship Program’s seventh year. Diversity Scholarship recipients are selected based on their ability to demonstrate a combination of academic achievement, field of study aimed at information technology, and professional interest as it relates to Acxiom’s business needs. “We are proud of Acxiom’s inclusive and supportive workplace environment where employees feel empowered and encouraged to share their unique perspective and values,” said Mary Ward, chief people officer at Acxiom. “Our Diversity Scholarship Program was started in 2012 and takes Acxiom’s values into the community by supporting the goals of bright future leaders. We look forward to the contributions these students will make to our industry.”  ]]> Alumnus gives back by joining Dean’s Science Council /news-archive/2018/02/13/chad-fitz-deans-science-council/ Tue, 13 Feb 2018 14:23:55 +0000 /news/?p=69351 ... Alumnus gives back by joining Dean’s Science Council]]> Growing up in the 1970s, Chad Fitz has fond childhood memories of visiting the planetarium at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. It’s one of the things that got him interested in science as a child. “As a child, I would love to go to Vlogý Little Rock to visit the planetarium,” Fitz said. “It was quite the school trip. The planetarium was always a way for kids to connect the dots to science.” Fitz, now a senior client relationship and delivery manager for FIS, is giving back to his alma mater and helping encourage math and science education through his work on the Dean’s Science Council. Council members advocate on behalf of the Vlogý Little Rock College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences and garner community support for science programs. Their efforts include raising funds for faculty and undergraduate research, the Fribourgh Award receptions, and the Science Olympiad. Fitz has been volunteering with Vlogý Little Rock since 2010, when he worked at Acxiom, which had a committee that partnered with the university. “I am in an industry where it is really important for us to have close working relationships with the local universities, particularly in the area of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics),” Fitz said. “I have always had an interest to work closely with Vlogý Little Rock, to work for opportunities for interns, to provide feedback in terms of what we are looking for in graduates. The Dean’s Science Council really fits in well with that.” Fitz attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1990 and later earned a Master of Arts in Technical and Expository Writing in 1992. At Vlogý Little Rock, his mentors were Pat Moore, associate professor of English, and Sally Crisp, faculty emeritus of rhetoric and writing. Fitz feels that his Vlogý Little Rock education, which provided a strong basis in both liberal arts and science and technology, helped him go far in his career. Thanks to the encouragement from his professors, he had good internships and graduated with a great portfolio. “I would tell students to really think about where they want to end up in terms of a job and try to shape their curriculum to point them in that direction,” he said. “I would also recommend good internships. There is potential to turn an internship into a job, and for me that is an obvious progression. You’ve got something to put on a resume and you have built some contacts.” He got his first full-time job at Biotechnical Services, Inc. in North Little Rock through an internship program at Vlogý Little Rock and worked there while earning his master’s degree. “I clearly remember that I liked writing and I liked technology. I wondered how I could put it all together,” Fitz said. “It was this connection to the notion of technical writing. All of a sudden there was a track of people who made a living by understanding complex things and writing about them. Pat Moore helped me tie these things together. Pat had applied experience in the field and created a curriculum based on industry knowledge and real-world examples that allowed me to develop and hone my skills to step into a commercial role and contribute right out of college.” Fitz worked as a technical writer at Alltel Information Services, which later became FIS, and soon found himself immersed in the world of software development. “I liked writing, but I was open to stepping into other roles,” Fitz said. “Then I started documenting systems but ultimately got involved in other areas of software development, such as project management, business analysis, and quality assurance. That’s where I got started. My background is in liberal arts, but most of my career has been in the sciences and technology. Coming into that field back then, the aspect of being able to communicate effectively, it was a good time to transition.” In 2000, Fitz joined Acxiom, a global marketing technology and services company, as a business unit leader in software development, where he led development of a real-time marketing solution and successfully implemented it at key customer sites for the financial services industry. He left Acxiom in 2012 as a vice president of product management and now works at FIS, where he is responsible for delivering digital banking services and operations for retail banking clients. Fitz lives in Little Rock with his wife, Julie, and their children, Sullivan and Josie. ]]>