In August, ISyE welcomed Jessica K. Hood, Sean McConnell, Sen Na, and Xiaochen Xian to the team, marking the start of an exciting academic year.
Jessica K. Hood joins ISyE as an academic advisor, bringing nearly ten years of combined experience from Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University. She holds a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Brandeis University.
I chose Georgia Tech for its reputation and the opportunity for a better work-life balance.
Her dedication to student success, combined with her creative and analytical skills, makes Jessica a valuable asset to ISyE.
Sean McConnell, a seasoned expert in project and portfolio management with 13 years of experience, joins ISyE as a Program & Portfolio Manager. He previously led the Project Management Office at WinShape Foundation, driving efficiency and continuous improvement.
Georgia Tech’s reputation for excellence and ISyE’s commitment to making a positive impact resonated with me deeply.
Outside of work, Sean enjoys spending time with his two young children, coaching T-ball, and playing golf.
Dr. Sen Na joins ISyE as an Assistant Professor, specializing in the mathematical foundations of data science. He was previously a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley, focusing on high-dimensional statistics, graphical models, and large-scale optimization.
I was drawn to Georgia Tech by its prestigious OR and IE programs, vibrant city life, pleasant environment, and collegial community.
Dr. Na earned his Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Mathematics from Nanjing University, China. He has received several prestigious awards, including the William Rainey Harper Dissertation Fellowship and the MAPR Meritorious Service Award.
Dr. Na's innovative research and expertise will greatly enhance ISyE's data science capabilities.
Dr. Xiaochen Xian joins ISyE as an Assistant Professor, specializing in big data analytics and system informatics. Previously, she was an assistant professor at the University of Florida.
Her research integrates big data stream monitoring, weakly-supervised machine learning, and real-time decision-making, applied to healthcare and environmental systems.
Georgia Tech is the best, with top faculty, students, and resources—it’s a no-brainer.
In her free time, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her two-year-old daughter and their corgi, Hero.
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As we start the new academic year, ISyE is energized by the diverse talents and perspectives these new team members bring. Please join us in welcoming them to the ISyE community.
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Author: Nat Esparza, Communications Officer II
Editor: Camille Carpenter, Communications Manager
As Fall 2024 begins, ISyE proudly welcomes four new members: Jessica K. Hood, Sean McConnell, Sen Na, and Dr. Xiaochen Xian. Each brings unique expertise and a shared commitment to advancing ISyE’s mission. Learn more about what inspired them to join Georgia Tech.
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