Industry Partnership News

A recent Cyber Saguaros student club and College of Information Science tour of Tucson Electric Power’s Security Operations Center offered a rare glimpse into protecting critical infrastructure, and launched BAS in Cyber Operations student Jesse Ceja toward a competitive industry internship.

Proximity changes what’s possible. When students, industry leaders, researchers and decision-makers share the same room, ideas move faster and futures feel closer. That was the atmosphere at the U of A Scottsdale Center as more than 140 industry leaders, entrepreneurs, students, faculty, alumni and community partners gathered for the Arizona Technology Council’s Q1 VIP Tech Mixer, hosted by the College of Information Science.

Arizona’s cybersecurity workforce took a major step forward this fall with the launch of the state’s first community college-based security operations center at Pima Community College—an effort strengthened by the U of A’s early coordination, continued partnership and expanded pathways for student experiential learning.

AI Core, based in the College of Information Science, has been recognized by Forbes as a leading model for how higher education can prepare students for an artificial intelligence-driven workforce. Launched to serve as both a hub of innovation and a training ground for the next generation of AI leaders, AI Core offers undergraduate students immersive, project-based experiences with campus and community partners.

When Marissa Alcorta (MLIS ’06) reflects on her journey through the Knowledge River Scholars Program, her message is clear: “KR is the reason I am in the leadership position I am in today.” That sentiment resonates throughout the newly released Knowledge River Scholars Program Impact Report (2020-2024), available here.

Applied computing undergraduate student Denisse Guerra was featured in this story about the Lundgren Consumer Science Lab's digital twin and its integration into College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences curriculum. Guerra, a member of AI Core, led the development of the digital twin and presented the platform to students and donors.

Opening March 24 on the third floor of the Main Library, the do-it-yourself digitization space called Wildcats Memory Lab, run by University Libraries, provides the equipment, guidance and resources needed to convert analog media into a digital format. Library and Information Science graduate students helped create the unique, community-oriented space.

Starting this spring, the college's undergraduate capstone program takes a bold leap forward by inviting organizations to partner directly with student capstone teams. These partnerships offer a unique synergy: students gain invaluable experience solving complex, real-world problems, while organizations benefit from the energy, creativity and technical expertise of top talent.

Jay Sampson, a College of Information Science lecturer with more than 25 years of leadership experience at high-tech companies like Microsoft and Adobe, offers not only insight but also instruction via the Digital Media History and Innovations course to help guide InfoSci students on their career development paths.

By fostering an environment where curiosity drives research and collaboration bridges disciplines, the Extended Reality and Games Lab not only advances academic knowledge but also provides valuable insights and innovations to industry.

Sixty U of A students tapped the latest in artificial intelligence over the summer to solve real-world problems for real clients—creating specialized chatbots, virtual reality experiences and new potential for transforming the shopping experience, tourism, language learning, healthcare and more.

Profile of the Arizona Cybersecurity Clinic at the program's launch, including key quote from then-President Robbins, as well as Nicol Rae and Paul Wagner. The program provides community and nonprofit organizations across Southern Arizona access to free cybersecurity services and support.

At MSDS "lightning talks," six to eight U of A MS in Data Science students share their experiences exploring cutting-edge topics. In the inaugural Fall 2023 event, second-year MSDS student Vikrant Deshmukh discussed his internship with Roche. View the short video.

At the end of each semester, the College of Information Science presents interactive research and creative projects by students in information science, game design and development, data science, digital storytelling and more. This fall, the U of A iShowcase featured 40 student projects.

“Media surrounds us in all parts of our lives—and has become more pervasive,” says Jack Myers, a College of Information Science lecturer and instructor of ESOC 314: Theories of New Media, an engaging seminar offered to undergraduate students in Spring 2024.