Month: February 2018

OPIM Innovate Workshop Schedule

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This Spring semester, OPIM Innovate will continue to host workshops introducing emerging business technology. The workshops, facilitated by faculty or industry experts, provide a brief look into what the technology is, how it works, and how it is useful to the business world. The workshops are held on Fridays from 1 – 2:30 in the Gladstein Research Lab (BUSN 391) and the workshop topics/dates are written below. In order to attend you must register ahead of time on the OPIM Innovate website. 

  • Feb 9 – How the Internet Works
  • Feb 16 – Intro to Blockchain (sponsored by RapidQube)
  • Feb 23 – Blockchain in Business (sponsored by RapidQube)
  • Mar 23 – Visual Analytics with Tableau
  • Apr 6 – Exploring Text Analytics
  • Apr 13 – Protecting your personal IT security
  • Apr 20 – Corporate IT security

 

Liberty Bank Internship Opportunity

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Liberty Bank is looking for summer interns from the University of Connecticut to work in Risk Management as the Information  Security Analyst Intern. Risk management is necessary for maintaining a strong information security program and this internship will offer hands on experience with challenging assignments guided by an onsite peer/mentor. The assignments include tasks involving security monitoring such as vulnerability review and analysis, security awareness testing and training, risk assessment and analysis, implementation and management of a cybersecurity framework, and information security program implementation and monitoring.

In order to apply, the candidate should have an intermediate to advanced level of technical knowledge and a basic understanding of information security concepts. Liberty Bank would prefer candidates who are rising juniors or seniors residing in Connecticut, as the internship is located in Middletown, CT, but is not required.

Programs of study that may work for this position could include:

1)      Computer Information Systems or related

2)      Business Administration

3)      Cybersecurity focused majors.

If interested, please email a resume and cover letter to Employment@liberty-bank.com

Faculty Spotlight – Stephen Fitzgerald

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Adjunct Professor Stephen Fitzgerald didn’t always see himself as a teacher. He completed his undergraduate career as a Management Information Systems (MIS) major, was hired at PwC to work in Risk Assurance, and had a series of odd jobs before deciding to return to school here at UConn. “Whether I was at PwC with new hires or at HuskyTech during my undergrad, I realized that the times when I was most at home, in flow, comfortable, and felt the most gratification was when I was sharing my knowledge with other people.” It was this self realization that inspired him to return to UConn to pursue a degree in Curriculum and Instruction through the NEAG School of Education. “The best part about my job is I essentially get paid to learn all of this stuff, distill it down to my own words, and tell them about all of the interesting stuff I am learning about. I get paid to learn which is super awesome.”

Professor Fitzgerald is currently teaching three Operations and Information Management (OPIM) courses; Business Information Systems, Operations Management, and Advanced Business Application Development. With Advanced Business Application Development, he was given the freedom to design and teach the course the way he wanted to. The course mostly involves teaching programming languages such as C# and Unity. What keeps him the most interested in information systems is the efficiency of programs and technology. Technology makes his job easier and their construction is “lean and makes sense.” Although he finds information systems “fascinating and elegant” in the way it works, he keeps an open mind towards the future of his teaching career and where that may take him. As long as his job can be learning and that learning can be shared with other people, he will find satisfaction.

“Giving people things that are relevant to them and skills that they can use in other parts of their lives, regardless of whether or not they are going to pursue OPIM or business in general,” is his favorite part of teaching. Being able to see the moment that students are able to make connections and understand concepts is rewarding for professors like Fitzgerald, who even spend their time outside of the classroom teaching. Fitzgerald is always researching ways to improve his teaching and he tries to stay involved in the OPIM Department by conducting workshops. Last semester, Fitzgerald conducted three workshops on Blockchain, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence. This semester he is teaching two more on How The Internet Works and Emerging Technologies Disrupting the Business World.

As someone who attended UConn, worked in the field, and discovered his passion, Fitzgerald is a great mentor to UConn students looking to explore career paths. His advice to students is to stay curious. “I think the easiest way to fall behind or lose interest is to not be constantly learning new things about technology and how to do our jobs better. Not only will you lose interest but you will fall behind. Stay curious and keep up on what’s new because it’s changing faster than we can teach it and the onus is on the student to take that into their own hands.”

Professor Fitzgerald is very thankful for the opportunities that the University of Connecticut has given him. He was able to teach a course last semester, and after his success he has the opportunity to teach more. With his remaining year as a graduate student, Professor Fitzgerald hopes to remain an active, influential member in the Operations and Information Management Department.