Dr. Brad Rubin Appointed Director of Center of Excellence for Big Data

Dr. Don Weinkauf, dean of the School of Engineering, has appointed Dr. Brad Rubin as the director for the Center of Excellence for Big Data. As enrollment in graduate programs in data science and big data booms, Rubin has been charged with leading efforts in recruiting and visibility of the center.

"We are seeing such tremendous interest in all of our big data and data science research and educational programs,” Weinkauf said. "Brad’s experience and vision for the technology are a perfect match to ensure the center continues to respond to industry trends."

The center will look to grow its work with industrially sponsored projects, curriculum development, graduate recruitment, faculty recruitment and executive education short courses.

Rubin has taught in the Graduate Programs in Software since 2003. Through the center, he also serves as a co-organizer of the Twin Cities Hadoop User Group, which hosts over 1,000 members. Prior to his work at St. Thomas, he worked for IBM and was CTO of the Data Storage Division of Imation Corp. He holds degrees in computer engineering, electrical engineering and computer science from the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin.

The Center for Excellence for Big Data was started in 2012 and has grown to involve all of the software engineering faculty, as well as other faculty from across campus in their teaching and research activities.

“My Graduate Programs in Software colleagues and I have brought these programs from inception to successful execution over the past four years, and I look forward to helping drive all facets of these programs to the next level,” Rubin said.

The School of Engineering’s Graduate Programs in Software offers master’s degrees in software engineering, data science, software management and information technology. The programs and coursework are designed for working professionals in a flexible evening format.

In the past year, enrollment in the data science program has surged to over 100 students. Overall enrollment in Graduate Programs in Software is now over 500 students.

The center's director position is funded by the Honeywell Endowment for Global Technology Management.

The Center of Excellence for Big Data tweets from @CoE4BD.