The 2019-2020 MSBA academic year has come to an end, and what a year it was! This year saw the program double in size to a graduating class of 76 students, all trained in the latest tools and methodologies in business analytics, AI, machine learning, and data science. As a program staple, students gained experience not only through course materials but through direct application in a real life setting as part of the Milgard MSBA Applied Project Program. The yearlong Applied Project Program provides student consultants and organizations a unique opportunity to cocreate value by solving a pressing business problem or opportunity through discovery, planning, development, and deployment of an innovative digital solution. The program also provides students a chance to engage in, support, and benefit our local communities. MSBA students completed a total of 19 of these projects with different organizations over the academic year, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank our applied project partners:
CHI Franciscan, Communities in Schools of Tacoma, Costco Whole Sale, Delta Air Lines INC., Harbor Wholesale Foods, Inc., IBM, Metropolitan Appliance, MultiCare Health System, Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport, Point Defiance Zoo, Providence St Joseph Health, Sound Credit Union, South Sound Military & Communities Partnership, Stellar Industrial Supply, Tacoma Power, Tacoma Public Schools, TCS World Travel, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Hyundai Capital of America
Community engagement reached new heights in the program this past year. Through the Milgard Center for Business Analytics, in conjunction with the Analytics Innovation Club (a UW Registered Student Organization), students were able to gain additional industry experience while assisting non-profits to solve unique organizational challenges. The student led Analytics Innovation Club provides students a platform to leverage their data science skills for social good in a volunteer capacity while providing additional learning and skill sets.
Volunteer project community partners this past year included The Korean Women’s Association, The Washington State Economist, and The Washington State Historical Society. Thank you to our partners!
This month saw the beginning of the 2020-2021 MSBA academic year with a new group of 76 selected student applicants, and we are happy to welcome the following new applied project sponsors:
City of Puyallup, City of Tacoma Human Resources, City of Tacoma Fire, Greentrike / Children’s Museum of Tacoma, Puget Sound Energy, South Tacoma Auto, Schnitzer Steel, UW Tacoma
We are excited about the updates and developments ahead! Also, we would love to assist communities further by expanding our organizational partnerships. If you have a project that you would be interested in proposing that would benefit from a data driven solution, please contact Michael Helser or Michael Turek via the below emails. Cheers!
Michael Helser, PhD, helsem@uw.edu
Michael Turek, MBA, MSBA turekmd@uw.edu
