Bryant Professor Honored by SAS for Innovative Analytics Education Leadership

SMITHFIELD, R.I., April 29 — Bryant University students can gain highly valuable analytics expertise thanks, in large part, to the work of Dr. Alan Olinsky, professor of mathematics and computer information systems. Olinsky is co-director and co-founder of Bryant’s Advanced Applied Analytics Center and the 2015 winner of the SAS Distinguished Professor Award.

For more than 20 years, Olinsky has taught and worked with SAS software, partnering with SAS to create joint certificates in applied analytics and data mining at the university. Bryant introduced one of the country’s first undergraduate applied analytics programs, and in 2014 added a joint certificate in business analytics offered through the Bryant University Graduate School of Business. These programs are overseen in collaboration with Bryant’s Advanced Applied Analytics Center, founded by Olinsky and Dr. Richard Glass, professor of computer information systems.

“Dr. Olinsky is truly an innovative leader in his field, and we are proud that he has been recognized by SAS for his achievements,” said Glenn Sulmasy, Bryant University Provost.

“Analytics has emerged as a critical organizational function that is essential in today’s world, and, through Dr. Olinsky’s work and our strategic affiliation with SAS, Bryant is producing highly skilled professionals ready to answer the call of organizations around the world.”

The SAS Distinguished Professor Award is given to a professor who uses SAS software in teaching and/or research, and supports student usage of the software in an effective way. Dr. Olinsky accepted the award at the recent SAS Global Forum, the world’s largest gathering of its users, attended by more than 4,500 business and information technology users of SAS   software and solutions.

“Dr. Olinsky has put countless students on the road to successful careers through his innovative instruction and programs,” said Jerry Oglesby, Senior Director for the SAS Global Academic Program and Global Certification. “His expertise in analytics and related fields is a force in the classroom and beyond.”

Olinsky’s research interests include statistics, management science, and data mining. He has published articles on these topics in professional journals, including the Journal of American Academy of Business, Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, and the European Journal of Operational Research. He is past president of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Statistical Association and a member of the Northeast Decision Sciences Institute.

With more than three decades of experience working in education, SAS has a rich heritage in higher education that presages a thriving future. SAS software is used by more than 3,000 institutions worldwide for teaching, research, and administration. It is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. Through innovative solutions, it helps customers at more than 75,000 sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster.

Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., is a leading private university offering an innovative and uniquely integrated business and liberal arts education. The University’s groundbreaking programs have been nationally recognized by organizations including the Davis Educational Foundation and Hanover Research. Founded in 1863, Bryant University has approximately 3,500 graduate and undergraduate students from 35 states and 85 countries. Bryant University is recognized as a leader in international education and regularly receives top rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, Forbes, College Factual, and Barron’s.

The innovative Advanced Applied Analytics Center (AAAC) at Bryant University supports the broadening of the relationship between analytics, research, and the solution of real-world problems. With generous support from SAS, Bryant’s AAAC is a hub for professional collaboration and the development of interdisciplinary analytics academic programs, research, training, application development, and conferences and symposia focused on real world problem solving. Visit www.Bryant.edu.