HONOLULU (March 12, 2019) — Chaminade University alumnus Matthew Howard ’89, a general partner of Norwest Venture Partners, and wife Kelli Omura Howard, have gifted $25,000 to Chaminade’s new Data Science Program. With lead funding provided by the National Science Foundation, the Data Science Program is the first of its kind in Hawaii and is set to welcome its first freshman class this fall.
“Chaminade is in a unique position to make data science accessible to nearly everyone,” said Howard. “Data science is becoming increasingly important for organizations to organize and synthesize their data assets to remain competitive, and to drive better decision making. Virtually no organization can escape these requirements. Nearly every industry and market is being reimagined.”
Howard received his BBA in Business, with an emphasis in information science, from Chaminade University in 1989, and has been member of Chaminade’s Board of Governors since 2014. He has over 30 years of experience in marketing, product management, engineering, business development, and sales in a wide range of technologies.
“This wonderful gift adds to the support we received from the National Science Foundation and other funders to start Hawaii’s first degree in data science, and its associated certificates for busy professionals,” said Dr. Helen Turner, Vice President for Strategy and Innovation, Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Chaminade University. “Our goal is to train data professionals who will arm every sector in our state’s economy – from healthcare to tourism – with the business intelligence to make great decisions.”
Students in the Data Science Program will collaborate directly with industry partners to gain real-world experience and build networks. They’ll work with businesses and organizations for a semester-long capstone project and engage in a variety of hands-on internships. Students will learn using new fully-equipped cyberinfrastructure created specifically for this new program, including a new data science center and virtual reality classrooms.
To learn more about the new data science, analytics and visualization major at Chaminade University, visit chaminade.edu.
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Chaminade University of Honolulu provides a collaborative and innovative learning environment that prepares graduate and undergraduate students for life, service and successful careers. Established in 1955, the university is guided by its Catholic, Marianist aid package and liberal arts educational traditions, which include a commitment to serving the Native Hawaiian population. Chaminade offers an inclusive setting where students, faculty and staff collectively pursue a more just and peaceful society.