What's new? Updates from the Department of Information Systems

Organizations such as DISC and Beta Alpha Psi enable students to experience the role of community service in a rich life. This month they paired up with KPMG to enliven the library at an area elementary school. We're also delighted to thank ExxonMobil Corporation for their continuing support -- funds that make it possible for the department to broaden student exposure to the field. And of course, our faculty were in the media talking about the trends that affect us all.

Organizations such as DISC and Beta Alpha Psi enable students to experience the role of community service in a rich life. This month they paired up with KPMG to enliven the library at an area elementary school. We're also delighted to thank ExxonMobil Corporation for their continuing support — funds that make it possible for the department to broaden student exposure to the field. And of course, our faculty were in the media talking about the trends that affect us all.

Students roll up sleeves in KPMG volunteer project

Some 30 members of DISC (Department of Information Systems Club) and Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) (the accounting honorary society) worked shoulder-to-shoulder with KPMG employees this month refurbishing the library at Longview Elementary School. KPMG employee Corinne Relucio (B.S. Computer Information Systems ’12), shown in our feature photo, was a DISC member and a CIS Ambassador before graduating. Haley O’Bryan (B.S. Accountancy ’12 and M.A. Accountancy ’13) was president of BAP.

They worked with the clubs to coordinate the student volunteers. The project is part of KPMG’s Family for Literacy initiative. The firm donated 5,000 new books to the school to celebrate golf pro Stacy Lewis’ win earlier this year at the RR Donnelley Founders Cup. KPMG is a hat sponsor for Lewis and Phil Mickelson. Omar Macias, DISC vice president for community service, shown in the feature photo, said the group worked for two days to get the job done.

“We inserted KPMG labels inside 5,000 books, assembled furniture, applied inspirational quotes to pieces of glass that were hung throughout the library, hung wooden letters that spelled the school name and mascot, and painted — a lot.” “The project was a huge success and everyone who volunteered had a lot of fun refurbishing a new library for the kids,” said Relucio. DISC’s next volunteer project is an event with Deloitte on November 14, when they will pack the dried components of individual nutritious meals at Feed My Starving Children in Tempe.

Tradition of support

ExxonMobil Corporation has been a long time supporter of the W. P. Carey School, and recently the company repeated its generosity. Joe Killalea, left, representing the company, delivered a check for $12,000, of which $8,000 is earmarked for the Department of Information Systems and $4,000 for the Department of Supply Chain management.

Department Chairman Michael Goul says that the funds are used to support opportunities for undergraduate students, including travel to competitions and to best practice learning events provided by the Association for Information Management. ExxonMobil is a member of the department’s Executive Advisory Board, and offers information systems students opportunities to develop their careers through internships and post-graduation jobs.

In the media

Privacy expert Marilyn Prosch commented recently that Facebook’s new privacy privacy settings, allowing more people to see user profiles, may hasten the departure of people experiencing "Facebook Fatigue." She explains in an interview with KPNX 12 (NBC) in Phoenix. The Chronicle of Higher Education interviewed Assistant Professor Zhan Michael Shi about his “personal passion”: the analysis of data from social media. The story then bridged to our new Master of Science in Business Analytics degree, quoting Michael Goul, Bin Gu and other faculty.

Exxon supports students

ExxonMobil Corporation has been a long time supporter of the W. P. Carey School, and recently the company repeated its generosity. Joe Hallalea, representing the company, delivered a check for $12,000, of which $8,000 is earmarked for the Department of Information Systems and $4,000 for the Department of Supply Chain management. Department Chairman Michael Goul says that the funds are used to support opportunities for undergraduate students, including travel to competitions and to best practice learning events provided by the Association for Information Management. ExxonMobil is a member of the department’s Executive Advisory Board, and offers information systems students opportunities to develop their careers through internships and post-graduation jobs.