Building the Foundation for a Data-Driven Future

Written by Amanda Mathis

Since moving to Spartanburg, SC, and joining the Converse University faculty in 2015, Dr. Jessica Sorrells has significantly impacted the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, both its sense of community and its influence on campus and beyond. “I was a first-generation college student with a passion for teaching mathematics, so I sought to teach within an institution and work environment that promotes a strong community experience for students and faculty,” said Dr. Sorrells. 

Her work involved expanding the current programs as Dr. Sorrells became the Department Chair of Mathematics and Computer Science by her second year on the faculty. She quickly gained a reputation as a capable and innovative leader. In January of this year, Sorrells was recently named the inaugural Dean of the School of Business and Data Science.

“Dr. Sorrells brings her leadership skills, talent, and innovative vision to this new School, and I’m eager to see it flourish under her leadership.”

Dr. Joe Wilferth

“I’m especially excited to have Dr. Jessica Sorrells lead the School of Business and Data Science as its inaugural Dean,” said Dr. Joe Wilferth, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs. “She has very capably led the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science in recent years. Dr. Sorrells brings her leadership skills, talent, and innovative vision to this new School, and I’m eager to see it flourish under her leadership.” 

Answering The Demand

Interest in data science is growing, and with the announcement of Converse’s new data science major, the university is equipping its students to enter an increasingly data-driven modern workforce to meet that demand. The National Center for Education Statistics reported “a recent 968 percent jump in data science bachelor’s degrees awarded, from 84 in 2020 to 897 in 2022.” The current job market indicates a demand for data science skills. Inside Higher Ed reports that the Department of Labor is projecting “36 percent growth in jobs for data scientists over the next decade, outpacing statisticians, logisticians, and research analysts.” 

The journey to create a Data Science program at Converse has been a long but a steady one. When considering the creation of a Data Science curriculum in 2017, there were very few of this type of undergraduate degree accessible to students in the country. Dr. Amanda Mangum was recruited in 2019 to build the program, and Converse launched the Data Science minor in 2020. Thanks to a strong interest and positive outcomes, Converse expanded the program to include a Data Science major, which launches in the upcoming academic year 2024-2025.

With a low student-to-faculty ratio that allows plenty of one-on-one faculty attention as students build their knowledge base, Converse’s Data Science program prepares students to succeed in the job market and graduate studies. Students begin gaining skills in visualizing and analyzing data in programs such as Excel, Google Sheets, Tableau, R, and Python from their first introductory course. 

Professors use the Bank of America Data Analytics Learning Laboratory to encourage classroom participation and active problem-solving. The lab includes interactive platforms that allow students to share their work in real-time with the instructor and fellow students. “It emphasizes a dynamic learning environment that focuses on building soft skills through hands-on work with local companies and nonprofits. This collaborative environment also fosters effective communication and presentation skills as students engage in labs and group projects in the classroom,” said Mangum. 

Making Progress

Dr. Sorrells pointed out, “Data is everywhere, and how we collect it and study it is important.” The success of the Data Science minor, following its launch in the fall of 2020, led to the development of our Data Science major for the upcoming academic year. One of the program’s goals is for our students to have the technical background and the soft skills they need to be leaders in their field as they will work in teams, present, deliver their results, and build up their communication skills while completing their major. “We are distinguishing Converse by creating a Data Science degree that emphasizes communication and leadership skills, which make our students stand out to future employers,” Sorrells explained.

“We are distinguishing Converse by creating a Data Science degree that emphasizes communication and leadership skills, which make our students stand out to future employers.”

Dr. Jessica Sorrells

Partnering With The Community

Professor Mangum reflects on previous classes that worked hand in hand with corporations like Bank of America and local nonprofits such as Upstate Family Resource Center. Over a semester, students acquire skills that prepare them for solving practical, real-life issues. “Students will build a portfolio during their time with the Data Science major. The plan is that they complete real work, implement it, provide solutions, and then provide action items.” 

Utilizing cutting-edge data trends, students will closely build a strong mathematics background with Converse faculty, conducting their research in probability, statistics, scientific computing, applied math, and more as they navigate the data landscape.

“Students will build a portfolio during their time with the Data Science major. “

Dr. Amanda Mangum

A Bright Future

“A Data Science degree is not very common among undergraduate institutions,” said Dean Sorrells. Converse’s Data Science major heavily emphasizes a traditional liberal arts experience and is multidisciplinary. Converse’s major ensures that students develop the right technical skills through the core data science courses but also allows them to select a concentration area of interest.

“The reason Data Science has become so prevalent is because we now need to analyze data in a variety of different areas of life and disciplines,” said Sorrells. “It is becoming more important to have the right tools to use to extract meaning from data and to be mindful of the ethical issues that arise when handling the data collected every day. In particular, every academic discipline has a need to be able to more thoughtfully consider the data relevant to that area of study.”