Industry Expert Ellen Terry Helps to Shape Analytics Program at Houston Bauer

Ellen Terry, a lecturer at the University of Houston – C.T. Bauer College of Business is bringing her years of analytics experience into the classroom to help students—and the university—prepare for changing industry needs.

According to a 2016 report from the McKinsey Global Institute, one of the biggest challenges to integrating data and analytics into their operations is simply finding the right person for the job. Bauer decided to respond to the ever-growing need for talent in the analytics field, making expansions to their program and following guidance from industry experts like Terry.

Ellen Terry, who currently serves as a lecturer in Bauer’s Department of Accountancy & Taxation, brings her many years of experience to help Bauer shape a new program that can address the growing needs of the industry. She is a former vice president in the Data Science Group at JPMorgan chase, also having served for more than a decade at Microsoft. Working alongside Kaye Newberry, Professor and Department Chair, and Michael Newman, a clinical professor and Director of Accounting Programs, Terry has played a key role in developing new graduate level advanced analytics courses at the university.

“We decided to start with the end game,” Terry said. “What competencies do students need when they start with a company and get the opportunity to apply data science on the job? At JPMorgan, I had a good view of incoming capabilities … the biggest challenge I saw was the ability to comprehend holistic business architectures and integrate the intelligence pieces.”

In addition to addressing these challenges through coursework, students will also have the chance to work with Big Four accounting firms like KPMG and Ernst & Young. The application of analytics training, however, Terry believes, will be applicable to many fields even outside of accounting. “I can’t think of many job markets that won’t be impacted,” she said “It’s already happening with the big companies: banks, accounting firms, manufacturers, governments … are all busy transforming.”

Despite the coming changes in various markets and industries, Terry has no concerns about what’s to come. “I’d like to say this to the students,” she said. “You are very lucky to be living in this era—the future is going to be amazing!”

regions: Houston

About the Author