Center for Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences

February 19, 2025Interested in double majoring in Computer Science and Cybersecurity at Ramapo?

If you are wondering if you can double major in Computer Science and Ramapo’s newest tech major – Cybersecurity, the answer is yes! Here’s a guide with the things you need to consider, along with a possible 4-year plan.

Double majors are able to double count up to 9 courses for both their Computer Science and Cybersecurity BS degree. The guide helps you understand which courses are double counted, which cannot be, and how to make sure you stay on track.

View Guide

Categories: Uncategorized

February 21, 2024Save the date! 2024 DMC Fair - April 18th

Date/Time: Thursday, 4/18/24, 5-7 pm

Location: Ramapo College, Trustees Pavilion

Join us for the Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences (DMC) Fair on April 18th, 2024. This event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Anthony Scriffignano. Anthony Scriffignano is an internationally recognized data scientist with experience spanning over 40 years, in multiple industries and domains. He is a Distinguished Fellow and member of the Loomis Council of The Stimson Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan Washington, D.C. think tank.

The event will also feature poster presentations from our students’ Senior Capstone projects and Masters Thesis.

Keynote Speaker

Hyperdisruption: How is the datasphere changing? How are we changing with it?

Anthony Scriffignano, PhD

Computer and information sciences are nothing new. Several generations have now been born into a world where computers, databases, information processing and even artificial intelligence exist. However, things are changing lately. Sometimes, when things change and you are part of that change, it can be difficult to notice.

The amount of information available on Earth, sometimes called the Datasphere, is doubling at a rate which arguably can no longer be measured. Much of this information is unstructured, encrypted, or available only with specific access. Other data is created by devices. Even data itself creates data as it moves from one context to another. We are awash in data.

The amount of computing power and processing capability is also at a critical inflection point. Massive computing power and the advent of Generative AI and Quantum computing are challenging the way that computer scientists think about tractability – or how solvable any given problem is.

Against all of this change, the world itself, connected with this massive data and technology is changing. Global disruption such as pandemic, nation-state actions, and social phenomena have created unprecedented challenges. Responding to any one of these challenges might be overwhelming, but the reality is even more sobering, as there isn’t time to completely respond to one disruption before another comes along, producing a sort of disrupted-disruption, or hyper-disruption.

In this session, Dr. Anthony Scriffignano, Distinguished Fellow and Loomis Innovation Council Member at the Stimson Center, a well-respected Washington DC think tank, and CDO Club’s 2018 Chief Data Officer of the Year will explore how the massive availability of data and technology, advances in AI, and response to disruption are creating massive opportunity and ominous risk. This session will cover three main themes: Our Curious World (how the data around us continues to change), The Risks and Our Response (practical examples of using data and AI in the context of disruption to make better decisions), and Future Trends and Recommendations. This talk will challenge our thinking about the skills leaders
need to succeed.

Anthony Scriffignano, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized data scientist with experience spanning over 40 years in multiple industries and enterprise domains. Scriffignano has extensive background in advanced anomaly detection, computational linguistics and advanced inferential methods, leveraging that background as primary inventor on multiple patents worldwide. He also has extensive experience with various boards and advisory groups. Scriffignano was recognized as the U.S. Chief Data Officer of the Year 2018 by the CDO Club, the world’s largest community of C-suite digital and data leaders. He is a Distinguished Fellow with The Stimson Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan Washington, D.C. think tank that aims to enhance international peace and security through analysis and outreach.. He has served as a member of the OECD Network of Experts on AI working group on implementing Trustworthy AI, focused on benefiting people and planet. He has served as a commissioner for the Atlantic Council, most recently contributing to a Report on the Geopolitical Impacts of New Technologies and Data. He has briefed the US National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee and contributed to three separate reports to the President, on Big Data Analytics, Emerging Technologies Strategic Vision, and Internet and Communications Resilience.

Additionally, Scriffignano provided expert advice on private sector data officers to a group of state Chief Data Officers and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Scriffignano serves on various advisory committees in government, private sector, and academia. Most recently, he has been called upon to provide insight on data science implications in the context of a highly disrupted datasphere and the implications of the global pandemic. He has published, delivered keynote presentations and participated in panel presentations extensively in various settings internationally concerning emerging trends in AI and advanced analytics, the “Big Data” explosion, artificial intelligence applications and implications for business and society, multilingual challenges in business identity and malfeasance in commercial and public-sector contexts.

Categories: Uncategorized

February 21, 2024Eric Wohltman - Discussion on Software Development at JP Morgan Chase - February 28th @ 6pm

The Computer Science Club is happy to announce their first big event for the semester! Eric Wohltman, a Senior Lead Software Engineer working at the biggest bank in the US (Chase), will give an online presentation. He will share his story about what he did as a college student, how he got his first job at Chase, and how he grew in the company to become a senior lead developer. He’ll also share some tips and some of the mistakes he made along the way. Sure, you do not want to miss it!

DATE: February 28 @ 6 PM

LOCATION: Google Meets

Make sure to RSVP below via Archway 🙂

Categories: Lecture Series, MSCS

February 20, 2024A personal view of the Design and Evolution of C++ - Bjarne Stroustrup

Bjarne Stroustrup, inventor of the C++ language and a pioneer in the field of Computer Science, is coming to Ramapo College on March 13th at 3:30 pm. Join us to learn about the past, present, and future of the language, and Dr. Stroustrup’s personal insights on its impact on the field of Computer Science . Dr. Stroustrup is currently a Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University in New York, NY.

All are welcome! Food will be available, along with a raffle for Google earbuds – courtesy of the Computer Science Club and co-sponsors. Check back here for room information as we get closer to the event.

Categories: Data Science, Lecture Series, MSCS, MSDS

November 7, 2023Balancing business goals with ethical considerations

Monday 11/20 at 6:30pm – Room ASB 136

Please join us for a fireside chat between Prof Jane Riff and Larry Shapiro – Global Engagement Product Director (Oracle) at PwC. The talk will cover balancing business goals with ethical considerations:

Discuss the challenges of balancing business goals with ethical considerations; explain how you learn to navigate challenges and make decisions that align with both business goals and personal ethical principles.
The importance of communication skills – the ability to explain a complex technology to non-technical stakeholders and conveying the appropriate ethical considerations to decision-makers.
How is PwC positioning itself for trends in AI and how will these trends impact your decisions and the ethical considerations that may arise.

All are welcome! Note this is part of DATA 225: Ethics in Technology curriculum.

Categories: Lecture Series

November 6, 2023DMC Thesis Information Session

The Fall 2023 Thesis Information session was held November 6th, if you missed it – here’s the link to the slides from the presentation. Reach out to Dr. Frees or Dr. Beecher for more information!

For graduate students looking to complete their Thesis in Spring 2024, you should be getting started with your thesis proposal – or at least starting to bounce ideas off potential thesis advisors!

For more information, take a look at the Thesis Handbook and Thesis Archive page as well.

Categories: MSCS, MSDS

October 26, 2023Science in Business: Challenges and Opportunities

Thursday, November 9, 2023, 11:15am – 12pm – Virtual (WebEx)

Please join us for a talk by Dr. Seyma Guven, Senior Applied Scientist at Amazon!

Dr Guven will share her personal journey to realizing how science works in a business setting. The talk will cover perspectives on the challenges and how students can be
better prepared to meet those challenges. This will be an open ended discussion – so bring your questions!

Dr. Guven have a Ph.D. in Operations Research from Georgia Tech, specializing in optimization in supply chain & logistics applications. She has been working for Amazon for 4+ years, in Supply Chain and Optimization Technologies (SCOT) department. She develops mathematical models and methodologies to solve inventory and transportation problems with high uncertainty using operations research and statistics techniques.

WebEx link provided to registrants prior to event

Categories: Data Science, Lecture Series, Uncategorized

October 24, 2023DMC Students meet with Mike Marusic, President and CEO of Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America

Thursday, October 19, 2023

Students from the Computer Science and Data Science clubs met with Mike Marusic, the CEO of Sharp, following his Presidential Speaker Series talk. This provided Ramapo students with the unique experience of engaging in a small group discussion with the chief executive of a major corporation. Mr. Marusic emphasized the importance of having a strong work ethic and investing time in building a professional network. “I learned that networking on LinkedIn is very important as a student,” said Computer Science Club president Daniel Rajakumar ’26. Students were given the opportunity to ask Mr. Marusic anything, such as what it’s like to work as a CEO, career advice, predictions of future trends in the job market, and more. Data Science Club faculty advisor Dr. Debbie Yuster adds, “Our students had great questions, and Mr. Marusic’s answers were very enlightening. One of the secrets to his success has been taking risks, such as moving between roles in completely new areas of the company. It was amazing for our students to have the opportunity to chat with and learn from such an important leader in business.”

Categories: Uncategorized

May 2, 2023Congratulations to the Data Science Club - New Club of the Year!

The Ramapo College SGA recognized the Data Science Club with its 2023 “New Club of the Year” award! The club had a great first year, discussing topics such as web scraping, natural language processing, agile software development, and more. They also held social activities, a scavenger hunt, and a “Bad Graph of the Week” series on data visualization.

Congratulations to the Data Science Club membership and a big thank you to the executive board: Founding President Thomas Ortega, Vice President Zainab Makhdum, Secretary Ankit Kafle, and Treasurer Merit Kayastha. Thanks also to the club’s faculty advisor, Prof. Debbie Yuster.

Interested in joining one of the DMC Student clubs? Take a look at the membership and get in touch with one of the club officers or the club’s faculty advisor today!

Categories: Uncategorized

March 29, 2023Bytes & Bites: Dinner and Data with Industry Professionals

Thursday, April 20, 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Alumni Lounges)

Please join us for sessions with Jane Riff, Product Manager, Business Intelligence & Advanced Analytics at KPMG and Peter Podolski, Senior Data Scientist at UPS

These sessions will focus on discussing the Capabilities of a Data Science Center of Excellence and on Theory, Practice and Pragmatism in Enterprise Data and Computer Science. This is a 3 part event, with a dinner for attendees served in between the 2 lectures for an opportunity for students to mingle with presenters and to informally discuss topics relating to the presentations.

.Register Now

Event Schedule:

- 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Presentation on Capabilities of a Data Science Center of Excellence by Jane Riff, KPMG
- 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Dinner and mingle with DMC students
- 5:30 – 6:30 PM: Presentation on Theory, Practice, and Pragmatism in Enterprise Data and Computer Science by Peter Podolski, UPS

Categories: Data Science, Lecture Series