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Academic Summit for Business Analytics 2026

January 28-30, 2026

The Naveen Jindal School of Management at The University of Texas at Dallas is proud to host the 3rd edition of the Academic Summit for Business Analytics (ASBA) on January 28-30, 2026

ASBA aims to provide a platform for a constructive exchange of ideas for faculty and administrative leaders in the field of Business Analytics. This platform will not only provide the means to share valuable insights on teaching Business Analytics in an efficient and enriching way but will also, cover the length and breadth of students’ journeys and how institutions can best leverage opportunities to provide students and faculty the best chances to be successful analytics professionals in the industry and academia. Some of the important topics ASBA will cover are, but are not limited to, Student Recruitment and Retention, Business Analytics Teaching and Curriculum Development, Student Success, and Industry Partnerships. Idea exchange will be encouraged by means of guest lectures, debates, panel discussions and informal conversations within summit participants, guest speakers and industry leaders.

ASBA provides opportunities to engage with top-ranked scholars, academic leaders, and industry experts in Business Analytics on emerging teaching practices such as AI and learn about how to effectively navigate through a long-term and successful career in Business Analytics.

**NOTE** – Activities for Day 1 – Jan 28 (Social) are cancelled because of campus closure due to inclement weather. Activities for Day 2 (Jan 29) are being held virtually using MS Teams. The event will continue as planned on Day 3 (Jan 30)

Click Here to Register

Academic Summit for Business Analytics Conference by Year

2025 | 2024

Conference Co-Chairs

Gaurav Shekhar

Associate Dean

Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas

Director of BS in Business Analytics & AI

Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas

Vatsal Maru

Associate Professor, Information Systems

Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas

Sunela Thomas

Director of MS in Business Analytics & AI – Flex

Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas

Mandar Samant

Associate Professor of Practice, Information Systems

Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas

Antonio Paes

Director of MS in Business Analytics & AI – Cohort and Online

Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas

Sivya Leventhal

Program Manager II

Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas

Genevieve Fernandes

Program Manager

Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas

Sponsors

Agenda

5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Welcome Reception and Early Check-in

Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast & Symposium Check-In
9:00 AM – 09:10 AM
Welcome
                
                    Hasan Pirkul, Dean and Caruth Chair, Naveen Jindal School of Management
                
        9:10 AM – 10:00 AM
    
Keynote Address
                
                    Panna Sharma, Chief Executive Officer, Lantern Pharma
                
        10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
    
Activity – SWOT Analysis
                
                    Gaurav Shekhar, PhD, Associate Dean, Naveen Jindal School of Management
                
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Break

        10:45 AM – 11:35 AM
    
Group Discussion – Recruitment in Analytics Programs
                
                    Sunela Thomas, Program Director, MS Business Analytics & AI, The University of Texas at Dallas
                
                    Prajakti Akarte, Program Director, BS Business Analytics & AI, The University of Texas at Dallas
                
                    Antonio Paes, Program Director, MS Business Analytics & AI (Cohort and Online), The University of Texas at Dallas
                
11:35 AM – Noon
Research Presentation – An Overview of Business Analytics Master’s Programs in the US
                
                    Han Reichgelt, Admissions Director and Graduate Advisor MS in BAIS Program, University of South Florida
                
Noon – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Group Activity – Team Building

        1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
    
Group Discussion: Relevance of Analytics
                
                    Gaurav Shekhar, PhD, Associate Dean, Naveen Jindal School of Management
                
                    Sunela Thomas, Program Director, MS Business Analytics & AI, The University of Texas at Dallas
                
        2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    
AI and DS in Business Curriculum; Synergy between Program and Faculty – Cadence
                
                    Sourav Chatterjee, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Analytics and Assistant Chair of the Information Technology and Decision Sciences, University of North Texas
                
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM
Break

        2:45 PM – 3:25 PM
    
Panel: Faculty Upskilling: Challenges and Path Forward
                
                    Junhua Ding, PhD, Reinburg Endowed Professor, Chair of Data Science Department, University of North Texas
                
                    Scott Radcliffe, Managing Director, MS in Business Analytics, Emory University – Goizueta Business School
                
                    Prajakti Akarte, Program Director, BS Business Analytics & AI, The University of Texas at Dallas
                
        3:25 PM – 4:00 PM
    
Panel Discussion – Workforce Development and Skilling
                
                    Deepak Khazanchi, PhD, Mutual of Omaha Distinguished Chair of Information Science and Technology, University of Nebraska at Omaha
                
                    Jeffery Benson, Managing Director, KPMG
                
                    Kim Wright, Director of Technology Initiatives, Uplift Education
                
                    Sameer Ranjan, Founder, Cognitive Sprints and Co-Founder – Catenate 
                
4:00 PM – 5:45 PM
Break
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Dinner and Networking Social
TopGolf Allen, 1500 Andrews Pkwy, Allen, TX 75002

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast

        9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
    
Keynote Address
                
                    Arnold Castro, Assistant Dean for AI at Mays Business School, Texas A&M
                
        9:45 AM – 10:15 AM
    
Activity: Design Thinking
                
                    Michelle Bellamy, Program Director, MS Information Technology and Management, The University of Texas at Dallas
                
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Break

        10:30 AM – 11:10 AM
    
Panel: Anxieties of Students – AI vs Skills
                
                    Salena Brody, PhD, Associate Director for the Center for Teaching and Learning at UT Dallas
                
                    Lyndsay Noble, Director of Analytics Programs, Rockhurst University
                
                    Adam Molnar, PhD, Academic Director, MSBA Program, University of Arizona
                
                    Javier Aldape, Director of the MS Analytics program at Mays Business School
                
        11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
    
Panel Discussion – Cross Domain Analytics
                
                    Mandar Samant, Associate Professor of Practice, The University of Texas at Dallas
                
                    Eric Stephens, Vice President, Data and Analytics, Catalyst Health Group
                
                    Sanjay Misra, Vice President, Connectivity BU, Cyient
                
                    Ross Agnus Williams, Partner, Bell Nunnally
                
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Working Lunch

        1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
    
Open Discussion: Alumni Engagement Strategies
                
                    Bob Guittard, Chief Executive Officer, Guittard Growth
                
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Summit at Glance and Thank You

Location

Sessions of the Academic Summit for Business Analytics (ASBA 2026) will take place in the Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM), Executive Dining Room, SOM 1.606 (see map below).

Address

Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas 800 W. Campbell Rd, Richardson TX 75080 Click here for the Parking Map Location Pin on Google Maps

UT Dallas

Link to UT Dallas Campus Map

UT Dallas Interactive Map

Naveen Jindal School of Management

UT Dallas Jindal School map

JSOM Building Interactive Map

Lodging

Double Tree by Hilton

1981 North Central Expressway, Richardson, TX
(972) 644-4000
Distance from UT Dallas – 2.3 miles

Conference rates – $109.00 plus 7% city tax (Does not include breakfast. However, breakfast will be served on campus)

State tax exempt.
To reserve a room and when checking in, a credit card is required.

Reserve your Discounted Room today!

Distance from Airport

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

2400 Aviation Dr, Dallas, TX 75261
Hub for All Major Airlines, except for Southwest Airlines.
Distance from UT Dallas – 27 miles

Dallas Love Field

8008 Herb Kelleher Way, Dallas, TX 75235
Hub for Southwest Airlines.
Distance from UT Dallas – 17 miles