A name change isn’t the only aspect that’s different about the newly named School of Business & Technology. Data Analytics Professor David Cochran will also step into his new role as dean in January 2023.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Alden Stout said Cochran’s background in data science makes him the ideal candidate to lead Newman’s School of Business & Technology.
“David’s work to create programming related to data and technology allows him to present our business programming in a way that fits the region,” Stout said.
Cochran has served as a professor at Newman since 2018 and said his new position feels like a natural next step.
“For four and a half years, I’ve had the opportunity to become great friends with my colleagues within the School of Business,” he said. “I’ve seen how their strengths and passions match up so very well with the opportunities around us. And, quite frankly, I wouldn’t be as excited about becoming a dean if it weren’t for the great team of people I get to work with.”
On the external side, developing relationships with regional employers and partners also excites Cochran as he prepares for his new leadership position.
David’s work to create programming related to data and technology allows him to present our business programming in a way that fits the region.
Alden Stout, vice president of academic affairs
“Both for the sake of creating opportunities for our students and for the very fruitful feedback loop between Newman and these regional partners,” he said. “We both find that we learn and benefit from the interactions and even the friendships it’s produced as a result.”
Celebrating the successes of the School of Business & Technology
In just four years, Newman University launched an undergraduate degree in business data analytics, a new graduate certificate in data analytics and even the Doctor of Business Administration program — one of the first of its kind in the Midwest.
“And we won’t be stopping there,” Cochran said.
According to Cochran, the outlook for the regional economy indicates “a growing demand for the development of new technology-centered programs in the future.”
By strengthening the school’s relationships between business and computer science, Newman’s programs will equip students with the skills they need to adapt in the ever-evolving workforce.
“Our new programs not only help students complete their education in exciting ways through various opportunities, but they will also help professionals pivot from their current field into data science as an entirely new undertaking,” Cochran explained.
An ever-evolving field
One of Cochran’s biggest passions is “designing programs that meet the needs of our marketplace.”
“This way,” he said, “We know that our graduates are prepared for whatever will be asked of them, even as the marketplace continues to change.”
The need for data analysts is a prime example of the ever-changing demands of the field. As technology continues to expand, so will the need for professional data analysts. The Newman school addressed this reality by making a few initial changes, one of which was making the Introduction to Data Analytics course a standard requirement for undergraduate students in the School of Business & Technology.
We know that our graduates are prepared for whatever will be asked of them, even as the marketplace continues to change.
David Cochran, dean of the School of Business & Technology
Adaptive education will never truly stop, and Newman will continue to build degree programs and graduate certificates to help acquaint individuals in their prospective fields.
Stout said that Cochran’s leadership and vision will help strengthen the “talent pipeline” and retain talent within the Wichita and Kansas economy.
“Keeping our best talent here in Kansas to invest in and to build lives is something we’re very passionate about, and we have a proven record of doing so,” Cochran said.
Continually building on education
Lori Steiner, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and professor of mathematics, believes Cochran’s relationships within the community play a huge role in ensuring a student’s education at Newman with meet future employers’ needs.
“David is responsive to employers and to students and will help ensure that the School of Business & Technology progresses as industry and technology changes,” Steiner said.
The Newman faculty are in a prime position to take full advantage of the opportunities ahead, Cochran said.
“We hope to build on our recent successes and continue to provide customized experiences for students,” Cochran added. “I believe Newman’s School of Business & Technology will be poised to do exactly that and more.”
Explore degrees in Newman’s School of Business & Technology
The School of Business & Technology at Newman University is a community of scholar-practitioners delivering excellence in business education.
