This episode focuses on how companies can collaborate with universities to solve business problems and strengthen their own data science programs. Jeff Dugger, Principal Data Scientist at Equifax & University Research Director, interviews Jennifer Priestley, Professor of Statistics and Data Science at Kennesaw State University, about how university’s structure their data science programs -- and how they rely on the private sector to stay relevant.

Skip ahead to these highlights:

1:00 - About Kennesaw State University’s School of Data Science and Analytics

3:25 - The challenges Jennifer faced when launching one of the first university data science programs

6:00 - How to bring different backgrounds together for an effective data science program

11:00 - How data science programs differ from so-called “spoke” programs

17:05 - It’s all about adding value to the organization

18:20 - Understanding model results

21:03 - The real-time feedback loop with the private sector

26:33 - The need for communications skills - how do you tell the story of your data?

28:30 - Top 3 takeaways for companies to build and strengthen their data science programs