This summer, SAS Academic Programs recognized four faculty members from across the country for their excellence in teaching data analytics.

Awardees of the SAS Distinguished Award and the Emerging Educator Award received plaques at the SAS Summer Educator Conference, where they participated in a panel discussion about their experience teaching data analytics in their respective fields.

The recipients of these awards are visionary leaders who excel in seamlessly integrating data analytics within their academic institutions.

What these awards are all about

The Distinguished SAS Educator Award is given to an educator who has contributed significantly to advancing analytics education and preparing students for analytics and data science careers for more than five years.

The Emerging SAS Educator Award is given to an educator who has shown exemplary progress in advancing analytics education and preparing students for analytics and data science careers for five or fewer years.

To be considered for these awards, applicants had to be educators at accredited colleges or universities in the United States and actively teach and integrate SAS tools into current and future courses. Faculty of all ranks and disciplines were encouraged to apply.

Winners and finalists weigh in on the award’s impact

Michael J. Salé, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems at Stonehill College and recipient of the Distinguished SAS Educator Award, views this recognition as a significant milestone in his career. “[This award] serves as recognition that we've achieved quite a lot through our partnership with SAS,” he said.

Jingwei Wu, Associate Professor at Temple University and recipient of the Emerging SAS Educator Award, believes this recognition from an industry partner encourages him to continue his efforts to implement SAS tools in his courses.

Aselia Urmanbetova, an Academic Professional at Georgia Tech and finalist for the Distinguished SAS Educator Award, added, “There are many great resources developed by SAS. SAS has amazing support. It's one of my favorite teams to work with.”

Preparing the next generation of analytic talent

In an increasingly data-driven world, analytic skills give students a competitive edge in the labor market. SAS collaborates with more than 300 academic programs worldwide to help bridge the gap between supply and demand for analytical talent across industries. Employers can search for relevant programs to develop potential employees with SAS^® skills, adding fresh talent from practically every industry in every region.

“We’ve witnessed firsthand how committed these faculty are to preparing students for impactful analytics and data science careers,” said Liz Moran, Director of Academic Programs and Certifications for Global Academic Programs at SAS. "They are lifelong learners who continue to advance their own skills and revise courses as the field evolves, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to recognize them."

Click through this slideshow to learn more about the 2023 winners and finalists!