Pitt Alum, Ben Wilson, Joins University's Department of Economics MQE Advisory Board
PITTSBURGH, May 21, 2020 (Newswire.com) - In its inaugural year, the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics (MQE) Program is an intensive eight-month professional degree program equipping students with the quantitative, analytical and communication skills needed to identify and resolve complex economic issues using a broad spectrum of quantitative techniques useful across contexts in the private, public and non-profit sector.
The MQE Program reflects the faculty's strive for excellence as the curriculum prepares students to inform economic decision making with sophisticated data analysis while effectively communicating these analyses and their implications. MQE is a professional STEM-designated degree and graduates meet employers' demand for professionals who master analytic methods and techniques of data-driven economics.
The MQE Advisory Board, comprised of industry leaders in economics and data science, serves as consultants to the director and faculty on coursework and provides professional opportunities for students. These nominations reflect the Board member’s stature and accomplishments in their relevant industries and will lend credibility to the MQE program as each provides feedback on coursework and career paths for students and graduates.
A 1999 University of Pittsburgh graduate, Ben takes great pride in returning to his alma mater and sharing his expertise to help shape the growing program. Rivers Agile CEO, Ben Wilson remarked, “It’s an honor to be recognized by the Board as a regional technical leader and The University of Pittsburgh is an institution that I’m very proud to be a part of. Pitt continues to lead with innovative, new programming and I believe this is an area of research and education that is directly applicable to our tech landscape moving forward.” He continued, “I actually can’t wait for someone to graduate from this program so I can hire them.”
“As more and more companies look toward data to inform their decisions, the demand for individuals able to interpret and translate complex data while also analyzing the consequences of different choices is steadily increasing,” said Luca Rigotti, the degree’s program director and an associate professor in the Department of Economics. “We recognized this growth in recent years and realized there was an opportunity to help foster and mentor future professionals in this field. We’re excited to see how successful this program can be.”
Background on Ben Wilson
After more than a decade of helping organizations strengthen their Software Development Life cycle through Quality Assurance, Ben Wilson founded Rivers Agile in 2008. He’s grown his company into a recognizable force in Pittsburgh - providing a full range of solutions from Product Design, to QA testing and training, to Software Development. Ben’s still as passionate as day one and feels lucky to work collaboratively with such a talented team.
To learn more about the MQE Program, visit www.mqe.pitt.edu. For more information about Ben Wilson, visit his LinkedIn profile at www.linkedin.com/in/WilsonBen/.
Source: Rivers Agile
