October 1, 2025Spring 2026 MS Course - DATA STORYTELLING

With registration approaching, check out this new course we are offering in the Spring. It’s online, and doesn’t have prerequisites!

This course, DATA 690 TOPICS: DATA STORYTELLING, equips students with the essential skills to effectively communicate insights from data. Building upon the principles of data visualization, the curriculum integrates techniques from writing, public speaking, and strategic communication. Students will learn to craft compelling narratives using data, employing frameworks such as the STAR method to structure their stories for maximum impact. The course focuses on transforming complex data analysis into clear, persuasive, and memorable presentations for diverse audiences.

• MSDS Technical Elective
• MSCS Category 1 Elective
• MSAM Category Category 2 Elective

Semester: Spring 2026
Delivery Mode: Online (Asynchronous)
Instructor: Jeff Ravid

Instructor Bio

Jeff Rayvid is a data analytics professional with 8+ years of experience at Amazon, Disney Streaming Services, and Google. At Amazon, he manages business strategy and analytics for Prime Gaming. Previously, he led analytics for Disney+, ESPN+, and Disney Bundle marketing campaigns, and developed machine learning algorithms for Google’s advertising at Essence.

Jeff holds an M.S. in Data Analytics from Fordham University and specializes in Python, R, SQL, machine learning, and big data technologies including Hadoop and Spark. He brings real-world experience in predictive modeling, data visualization, and translating analytics into business decisions across entertainment, advertising, and e-commerce industries.

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September 23, 2025Ramapo College Partners with Center for Food Action to Combat Hunger Through Data Science Innovation

Ramapo College’s Center for Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences (DMC) has partnered with Center for Food Action (CFA) to use data science in the fight against food insecurity across Bergen and Passaic Counties. Thanks to generous support from the Daffron Family Foundation, this collaboration will provide paid internships for Ramapo students to solve real-world challenges facing our region’s most vulnerable residents.

The partnership centers on four projects supporting CFA’s mission and resource optimization. Students will develop tools to forecast demand and identify funding gaps using real-time food pricing, create systems that consolidate data into standardized reports, build a mobile app for grocery categorization, and design maps to highlight service gaps and improve distribution routes.

Working under faculty supervision, student teams will collaborate directly with CFA leadership over 12 weeks to deliver these solutions. Students will gain hands-on experience with web scraping, statistical modeling, mobile app development, and geospatial analytics while seeing how their technical work directly impacts families facing food insecurity.

This partnership creates a pipeline for socially conscious data scientists while delivering immediate benefits to CFA’s mission of preventing hunger and homelessness in northern New Jersey.

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For Students: Join the Fight Against Hunger

Data Science and Computer Science students can apply now for these paid internship opportunities. We’re seeking up to 5 students total: 1-3 seniors or graduate students and 2-3 underclassmen ready to apply their skills for social good. Internships will pay up to $5,000 over the project period (12-15 weeks, ~20 hours/week). We are seeking students with a strong coding background, solid communication and presentation skills, and a genuine interest in social good.

To apply, send your resume to Dr. Scott Frees (sfrees@ramapo.edu) and a brief (250 word) personal statement describing your skills, experience, and interest in the position by October 3rd, 2025. We will be interviewing candidates during the second week of October. Internships will start by the end of October and continue for approximately 12-15 weeks.

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For Community Organizations: Partner with Ramapo DMC

Does your organization have data challenges that student teams could help solve? The DMC is eager to create more community partnerships. Contact Dr. Scott Frees (sfrees@ramapo.edu) to explore how our talented students can support your mission while gaining real-world experience.

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August 30, 2025Ramapo College Awarded Prestigious NSF S-STEM Grant to Support Next Generation of STEM Leaders

Ramapo College of New Jersey has received a $2M U.S. National Science Foundation S-STEM (Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) grant to launch the Ramapo Opportunities for Advanced Degrees in STEM (ROADS) program. This multi-year award will provide comprehensive scholarship support and specialized academic programming for academically talented students with financial need.

ROADS targets five high-growth disciplines through our Center for Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences: Computer Science, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Mathematics, and Bioinformatics. These fields are experiencing unprecedented demand, with job growth projections ranging from 11% to 36% over the next decade – far exceeding the national average.

What makes this program particularly innovative is its integration with Ramapo’s accelerated 4+1 degree pathways. Students can complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years, with significant cost savings. During their senior year, students take three graduate courses covered by undergraduate tuition, saving over $12,000 toward their graduate degree.

The scholarship program addresses both financial and developmental barriers that often prevent talented students from succeeding in STEM fields. Selected students will receive full coverage of their unmet financial need – up to $15,000 annually for undergraduates and $20,000 for graduate students. Beyond financial support, ROADS scholars will participate in a unique four-course research sequence designed to develop their identity as researchers and prepare them for advanced careers or graduate study.

The program’s comprehensive support system includes cohort-based mentorship, one-on-one faculty advising, undergraduate research opportunities, and professional development activities. Students will have access to conference presentations, career fairs, and networking events with industry professionals through our established advisory board.

This award builds on Ramapo’s strong tradition of supporting STEM, including our Upward Bound-Math Science Program and Educational Opportunity Fund initiatives. The ROADS program specifically serves the New York-New Jersey region, which ranks as the number one area nationally for job postings in data and computer science fields.

Applications for the first cohort of ROADS recipients will open soon, with separate application cycles for incoming freshmen and current students. The program aims to support 35 students over five years, with the goal of achieving 95% retention rates and ensuring 90% of graduates enter ROADS-related careers within two years.

This investment in STEM education directly supports national priorities in innovation and economic competitiveness, preparing graduates to contribute to cybersecurity, data analysis, and technological advancement in an increasingly digital world.

More information about application processes and program requirements are available NOW.

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August 26, 2025Thesis Information - Fall 2025 and Spring 2026

If you’re aiming to graduate in Spring 2026, you must register for Thesis Proposal (DATA/CMPS/MATH 745) this Fall semester. This one-credit, pass/fail course guides you through crafting and securing approval of your formal thesis proposal; upon passing, it enables you to enroll in Thesis (750) the following term.

The Thesis (750) is a two-credit, independent research project requiring a written deliverable, presentation, and faculty panel evaluation.

Who should attend the info session?

Any student planning to graduate in Spring 2026 and needing to complete the 745/750 sequence should join. Come right after the DMC Lecture Series talk on September 9th, and join us in ASB 123 around 7:15pm for all the essential details: what to expect from 745, how to prepare, timeline checkpoints, and next steps.

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August 26, 2025Join the ICPC Programming Competition

The ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Contest) Regional Competition will take place during the Fall 2025 semester (likely at the end of October or mid-November). This is a great opportunity to enhance your programming and problem-solving skills while collaborating with students from other schools in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.

Each team will consist of three students, who will work together to solve 10 challenging programming problems within 5 hours. Training will be provided during the semester and in preparation for the contest.

If you are interested in joining a team, contact Dr. Ali Juboori – aaljuboo@ramapo.edu. Once your participation is confirmed, additional resources and guidance will be shared to help you prepare.

Learn more about ICPC

ICPC Global
ACM GNYR
GNY ICPC Regional

This is an excellent way to strengthen your programming abilities, critical thinking, and teamwork skills!

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June 26, 2025Ramapo students shine at 2025 NJUMC

Congratulations to Ramapo students for placing in the 2025 annual New Jersey Undergraduate Mathematics Competition NJUMC!

Adrian Zaremba, Afrona Tozluku and Bibhu Bhatta placed 4th in the team competition out of 24 teams. Adrian Zaremba placed 4th in the individual competition, out of 72 students.

Congratulations to all Ramapo College’s representatives at this year’s NJUMC:

• Adrian Zaremba (Mathematics major)
• Afrona Tozluku (Mathematics major)
• Bibhu Bhatta (Computer Science major)
• Amir Sela (Mathematics major and Data Science major)
• Abdurahim Sanginov (Computer Science major)
• Genaro Sanchez Feliz (Data Science)
• Justin Haskoor (Computer Science major)
• Shane Fleischman (Mathematics Major)

Thank you to Dr. Katarzyna Kowal for assembling and advising Ramapo’s students and leading them at the competition! Dr. Kowal’s student advisee, Justin Haskoor, also presented a research poster at the competition on the Central Limit Theorem. Adrian Zaremba, Bibhu Bhatta, and Justin Haskoor are also members of the Ramapo College Chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon National Mathematics Honor Society. By their participation in the NJUMC competition, they fulfilled one of the activities for the chapter.

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May 2, 2025DMC Masters Thesis Defenses - Spring 2025

Come support our DMC students defending their MS defense, and see the good work they’ve done! Open to Ramapo students, faculty, and the public!

Wednesday April 30th
Kasmi Yussof – MS Data Science
Quantitative Model Tools
11:15am-12:15pm – ASB 423

Tuesday May 6th
Daniel Figueiras – MS Data Science
Using Free-Text Clinical Notes to Improve Model Performance in Healthcare
9am-10am – ASB 220

Tuesday May 6th
Olivia Church – MS Applied Mathematics
Exploring Jane Addams Papers Project Documents Through Topic Modeling and Multilabel Classification
11am-12pm – ASB 220

Wednesday May 7th
Olivia Arva Diana – MS Data Science
Predictive Modeling for Email Marketing Success: Optimizing Campaign Deliverability and Google Postmaster Metrics via Tree-Based Regression
11am-12pm – ASB 525

Wednesday May 7th
Harshitha Dalli Sai – MS Data Science
The Impact Of Natural Disasters On Border Crossings In The US
1pm-2pm – Greenhouse Classroom

Friday May 9th
Maxwell Bilyk – MS Data Science
Analyzing Artificial Intelligence’s Ability to Detect Misinformation
10:30-11:30am – Virtual
Request link from Kathleen Walsh, kwalsh@ramapo.edu

Wednesday May 14th
Anthony Messana – MS Computer Science
An Empirical Comparative Analysis of Skyline Query Algorithms for Incomplete Data
1pm-2pm – Virtual
Request link from Ali Al-Juboori, aaljuboo@ramapo.edu

Wednesday May 14th
Brian DeNichilo – MS Data Science
Building a Collaborative Recommender System for Magic the Gathering
7pm-8pm – Virtual
Request link from Donovan McFeron, dmcferon@ramapo.edu

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March 27, 2025Humanity in the Age of AI & Cybersecurity: An Interdisciplinary Exploration

Please join us for a Presidential Speaker Series fireside chat with President Jebb and Charlie Lewis, McKinsey & Co. Partner, exploring AI and Cybersecurity’s transformative impact. Drawing from military, academic, and corporate expertise, Lewis will unpack critical insights for business, education, government, and humanity. Q&A to follow. All welcome!

April 7th, 1pm

Trustees Pavilion

No registration is required!

Read more about this event!

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March 27, 2025New Cybersecurity Major featured in Ramapo Magazine

DMC’s new Cybersecurity major, created in Fall 2024, is featured in this semester’s Ramapo Magazine. Check out what the College has to say about the program, cybersecurity, and career opportunities in the field!

We are addressing the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals. More than a traditional technical program, this degree integrates technical skills with insights from psychology, ethics, and criminal justice.
Students will gain comprehensive training that prepares them for the complex challenges of cybersecurity, learning not just coding and network protection, but also the critical human and ethical dimensions of digital security. With over 700,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the U.S., this program offers an exciting opportunity for students to enter a dynamic and essential field.

Read the full Ramapo Magazine article

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Register Now

WebEx link provided to registrants prior to event

Categories: Data Science, Lecture Series, Uncategorized

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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.”

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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!

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March 2, 2023Ramapo College DMC - Community College Day

Tuesday, April 18, 2023, 3:00-7:00pm
505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah NJ 07430

• Learn about transfer pathways to complete your BS degree at Ramapo College.
• Earn your MS degree in just one additional year as part of our 4+1 programs in Data Science, Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.
• Come for a campus tour, meet our faculty, and stay for our evening fair, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Luke DuBois (NYU), followed by a student research poster showcase.

Click here for more!

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February 20, 2023Save the date! 2023 DMC Fair - April 18th

Joint event with the Music Program

Date/Time: Tuesday, 4/18/23, 5-7 pm

Location: Ramapo College, Trustees Pavilion

Join us for the Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences (DMC) Fair on April 18th, 2023. This year’s DMC Fair is a joint event with Ramapo’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Music Technology program. This event will feature keynote speaker Dr. R. Luke DuBois, Associate Professor and Director of Research, Integrated Design & Media at New York University. Here is a link to Dr. DuBois’ TED talk, which weaves information from a multitude of sources into art and music exploring the tensions between algorithms, portraiture, and temporal space.

Description of Talk: For the last twenty-five years Dr. DuBois has been making music and art that comment on the intersection of 21st century culture and our obsession with the quantification of our world. These projects sit somewhere in between portraiture and composition, in that they leverage media, information, algorithms, and emotion to invoke the big picture narratives behind this century of data.

About the Speaker: R. Luke DuBois is a composer, artist, performer, designer, and software engineer who explores the
temporal, verbal, and visual structures of cultural and personal ephemera. He holds a doctorate in music
composition from Columbia University, and is the co-author of Jitter, a software suite for the real-time
manipulation of matrix data developed by San Francisco-based software company Cycling’74; he is a
regular contributor to other toolkits for creative coding, including p5.js and RTCmix. He is the research
director of the IDM program at NYU Tandon, and was a founding co-director of the NYU Ability Project.
Luke’s research interests range from inclusive design to cyber-physical systems to telepresent
collaboration. He works across many disciplines and has collaborated with NYU faculty in departments
ranging from Computer Science to Occupational Therapy, and teaches in a triple appointment between
IDM at NYU Tandon and the programs in Music Technology at NYU Steinhardt and ITP/IMA at NYU Tisch.
He is currently a co-investigator on multiple NSF-funded projects, including SONYC, a multi-year
investigation around noise pollution in New York City; and the NYU Holodeck, a research platform for
investigating what happens when VR, motion capture, and telecommunication infrastructure reach the
level of everyday use. Finally, Luke designs, builds, and restores analog and hybrid analog/digital
modular synthesizers in the audio lab, making open-source designs for creative signal processing.

Following the keynote speech, attendees can view posters showcasing Ramapo students’ research projects in Data, Mathematical, Computational Sciences, and Creative Music Technology. Attendees will be able to network with Ramapo students and faculty as well as industry professionals. Awards will be given for the best posters.

This event was supported by a grant from the Ramapo College Foundation.

Register Now

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February 3, 2023Ramapo College and CCM Sign New Jersey’s First Data Science Transfer Agreement!

Ramapo College of New Jersey and County College of Morris (CCM) have partnered to create pathways for aspiring data scientists to earn a masters in data science in as little as five years. Through the 2+2+1 agreement, students can begin their education at CCM to earn their associate degree and then seamlessly transfer to Ramapo to earn their bachelors degree and then a masters in data science if they wish. Thomas Ortega, a graduate of Morris Hills High School and CCM, is in his fourth year in the 2+2+1 program and serves as the founder and President of the Ramapo College Data Science Club. Ramapo’s Master of Science in Data Science program is nationally ranked a Top 30 Masters program by Fortune Magazine, making it the #1 graduate data science program in New Jersey. By taking a number of graduate courses as an undergraduate at Ramapo, the masters can be completed in one year, allowing students to enjoy significant savings on their higher education. CCM now has more than 170 transfer agreements to ease the process of earning an associate and then a bachelors degree.

Read more here!

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September 12, 2022Welcome new MS and 4+1 in Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences students!

We are excited to welcome students into our new MS in Applied Mathematics and MS in Computer Science programs at Ramapo College! They join our MS in Data Science students as members of our DMC community. All of these new programs are taught by our dedicated full-time faculty. We had a chance to meet them on Thursday, September 8th at the DMC Meet-and-Greet. We are so happy you chose to continue your education with us!

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April 4, 2022Fall 2022 DMC Course Schedule

1st Year Students

Welcome to Ramapo College of New Jersey! Whether you are entering the MS in Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or Computer Science, there are a few things you will want to take care of to get ready for your first semester. Admissions has a guide for admitted students, which outlines the registration process and a number of other things of interest.

Fall 2022 Course Schedule

• CMPS 547 – Foundations of Computer Science

  This course provides a foundational overview of programming language design, including compiled languages as well as higher level scripting languages. The course introduces students to concepts such as grammars, binding, scope, flow control, and data abstraction – through the lense of multiple languages. Students will also gain experience programming across language interfaces. This course serves 3 core purposes as a foundational course for MSCS students: (1) Principles of Programming Languages – this course serves as a general introduction to the theory of computation and programming language design. Topics cover basic theory of computation, and language principles such as context free grammars; binding and scope; static and dynamic semantics; type safety; recursion; concurrency. The theoretical topics covered throughout the course will be demonstrated / mapped to the programming topics languages introduced. (2) The C programming language – students are introduced to the C as a way to prepare them for courses such as Operating Systems and so they understand aspects of low level programming language to support the Computer Architecture course as well. The fundamental topics in C include types, control flow, structures, arrays, pointers, and relationship to hardware via compilation. (3) Python Programming – students will learn how higher level languages differ from C, and how they map to lower level languages. Significant time will be spent covering a variety of language concepts through the lens of Python, culminating with extending Python via C through Cython.

  Monday nights – 6:05pm – 7:20pm

  Required for MS Computer Science first year students.
  Category 2 elective for MS Applied Mathematics students

• MATH 680 – Advanced Mathematical Modeling

  This course requires students to develop, use, and assess models to solve real-world problems using the mathematical modeling process. Models developed in a variety of disciplines, including linear programming, network science, decision theory, machine learning, are studied and used to solve problems in other disciplines.

  Monday nights – 6:05pm – 7:20pm

  Required for MS Data Science second year students.
  Required course for MS Applied Mathematics students (any year, with pre-requisites).
  Category 2 elective for MS Computer Science students (with pre-requisites).

• DATA 601 – Introduction to Data Science

  This course serves as the foundation for all DATA graduate level coursework. It will cover programming, data analysis, data visualization, ethics and security / privacy concerns surrounding data, and other topics students are expected to master in the program. The course will also feature a Seminar component designed to acclimate students to working with Industry Sponsors and to hear first hand from people working in Data Science.

  Tuesday nights – 6:05pm – 7:20pm

  Required for MS Data Science first year students.
  Category 2 elective for MS Applied Mathematics (recommended for first year students).

• MATH 570 – Applied Statistics

  This course gives an introduction to statistical methods used in data science with an emphasis on applications. Topics may include foundations of probability, univariate and multivariate random variables and distributions, special distributions, Central Limit Theorem, one- and two-sample methods, point estimation, interval estimation, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, Bayesian analysis, data analysis and model building.

  Tuesday nights – 8pm – 9:15pm

Required for MS Data Science full time first year students. May be deferred to future semester for part time MSDS students.
Required for MS Applied Mathematics students full time first year students. May be deferred to future semester for part time MSAM students.
Category 2 elective for MS Computer Science students (recommended for first year students).

• CMPS 530 – Python for Data Science

  This course introduces students to fundamental programming concepts and skills utilized by Data Scientists – in particular parallel computing, I/O, and visualization – all through the Python programming language and associated libraries (i.e. numpy, pandas, etc.). The course is suitable for students with a basic knowledge of programming, and prepares students to take more advanced computing courses in databases, big data analytics, machine learning, and other DATA and CMPS electives.

  Thursday nights – 6:05pm – 7:20pm

  Required for MS Data Science full time first year students. May be deferred to future semester for part time MSDS students.
  Category 2 elective for MS Applied Mathematics students (strongly recommended for first year students).
  Category 1 elective for MS Computer Science students (recommended for first year students).

• MATH 562 – Applied Linear Algebra

  This course is a foundational course for the study of Linear Algebraic structures used in a variety of scientific and computational applications, such as data fitting, clustering, feature engineering, image processing, machine learning, optimization, and dynamical systems. In order to achieve this purpose, this course will cover topics in linear algebra including vector and matrix operations, linear transformations, linear independence, norms, decomposition, and least squares.

  Thursday nights – 8pm – 9:15pm

Category 1 elective for MS Data Science students.
Required for MS Applied Mathematics (strongly recommended for first year students).
Category 2 elective for MS Computer Science students (recommended for first year students).

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March 24, 2022DMC Advisory Board Member - Dobri Yordanov

Ramapo College’s Center for Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences welcomes Dobri Yordanov to our Advisory Board! Our Advisory Board’s mission is to assist the Center in aligning our curriculum with industry needs and expectations, helping us to promote our curriculum, and guide us in developing our sponsored fieldwork experiences to our students.

Dobri is a Ramapo ’15 graduate with a BS in Computer Science and Mathematics. He started his career with web and flash freelancing even prior to attending and was a part of developing the infrastructure behind most of the ramapo.edu websites. After graduation, he spent 4 years at Google, working on critical infrastructure on Google Maps, Google Assistant and Daydream (virtual / augmented reality). Facebook was the next prototyping home for him, where he led engineering on a music collaboration experience called Collab as a part of NPE, Facebook’s experiences incubator. Most recently, he’s joined Manticore Games as a principal engineer, leading major efforts to build out the next big thing in game development. Dobri is also an adjunct faculty in computer science at Ramapo, most recently running a course on computer graphics in Unreal Engine 5.

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March 1, 2022Center for Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences Fair

Date/Time: Tuesday, 4/5/22, 5-7pm
Location: Ramapo College, Trustees Pavilion 1

Join us for the Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences Fair on April 5th, 2022! This event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Shawn Simpson, Principal Data Scientist at BlackRock AI Labs, who will share practical tips gleaned from her career as a Data Scientist in finance, media, and advertising. Following the keynote speech, attendees will have the chance to view posters showcasing Ramapo students’ research projects in Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences. Attendees will be able to network with Ramapo students and faculty, as well as prospective employers who may be looking to hire interns or full-time employees. Awards will be given for the best posters.

This event is open to current and prospective students, faculty, staff, and members of the public.

Register Now

This page will be updated as more information about the event is announced

Schedule

• 5:00-5:05pm Guests arrive
• 5:05pm-5:10pm Welcome remarks (President Cindy Jebb)
• 5:10-5:20pm Welcome and overview of Ramapo’s bachelor and master degree programs in Data, Mathematical, and Computational Sciences (Scott Frees and Amanda Beecher)
• 5:20-6:15pm Keynote speech: “Field notes for future data scientists: tips from a career in industry” by
  Dr. Shawn Simpson, Principal Data Scientist, BlackRock AI Labs. See additional information below.
• 6:15-7:00pm Student poster session and networking event

Keynote Speaker

Speaker: Dr. Shawn Simpson, Principal Data Scientist, BlackRock AI Labs

Title: Field notes for future data scientists: tips from a career in industry

Abstract: When training to be a data scientist there is an emphasis on data analysis and modeling
techniques — but what happens once you are out in industry? This talk will provide practical suggestions based on my career in data science, with examples drawn from applications in news and media, finance, and advertising technology. Topics will include going deep with data, understanding uncertainty, joining forces with engineers, taking a product mindset, knowing your end user, and architecting end-to-end systems.

Speaker bio: Shawn Simpson, Ph.D. is Principal Data Scientist in BlackRock AI Labs, where she leads an initiative that builds AI-powered decision tools for traders. Previously she was Senior Data Scientist at Tapad, a cross-device advertising technology firm. She built large-scale predictive models for telco applications using Scala, Spark/PySpark, Python, Hadoop MapReduce, and Google Cloud Platform technologies, and acted as lead data scientist on cross-functional product teams. Prior to that Shawn was Head of Data Science at Dow Jones. She was responsible for multivariate paywall testing on WSJ.com, predictive models for subscriptions and cancellations, company-wide data science training,
and internal consulting for newsroom, finance, and customer teams.

Before joining industry Shawn was an Assistant Professor of Statistics at Columbia University. Her research focused on analysis of recurrent events, Bayesian methods for large-scale data, and post-
marketing drug safety surveillance. She has a Ph.D. in Statistics from Columbia University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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February 7, 2022How to fail your tech interview successfully

Feb 22nd at 6-7pm in ASB 332

Computer Science is hard. Being a Software Engineer is hard. Translating your computer science skills into a successful Software Engineer gig after college shouldn’t be hard. After interviewing close to 100 candidates at all levels for Google, Facebook and Manticore, Dobri Yordanov has a few tips and tricks to share, as well as pitfalls to avoid. Join us if you’d like to hear about them, be it out of curiosity or practicality. Everyone is welcome!

Register Now

Biography: Dobri is a Ramapo College ’15 graduate, originally from Bulgaria. Since graduating, he’s built a career as a Software Engineer and a self-described Prototype Wizard in large tech working for Google and Facebook, and most recently landing in the game industry as a principal engineer at Manticore Games. As of ’21, you can occasionally catch him in Ramapo teaching some of our Computer Science classes. He likes long walks on the beach in VR and philosophical ponderings about the nature of our existence and ethics in technology. He will also absolutely listen to you about your favorite algorithm or design paradigm – he is 100% that kind of dork.

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November 3, 2021Data Science in Theory and Practice: Techniques for Big Data Analytics and Complex Data Sets

Congratulations to Ramapo’s Data Science Professor Osei Tweneboah. Dr. Tweneboah has co-authored the textbook Data Science in Theory and Practice: Techniques for Big Data Analytics and Complex Data Sets recently published by Wiley. This book is perfect for data practitioners, undergraduate and graduate students in Data Science, Business Analytics, and Statistics programs. It provides a comprehensive treatment of the mathematical and statistical models useful for analyzing data sets arising in various disciplines, like banking, finance, health care, bioinformatics, security, education, and social services.

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November 1, 2021Lecture Series: Data is the New Oil- Why Now?

Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM – Eastern Standard Time

Ramapo College is proud to host a Graduate Lecture Series about a variety of interesting topics throughout the year.

During the RCNJ Lecture Series: Data is the New Oil- Why Now, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from Arnab Mukhopadhyay, Head of Enterprise Architecture at Valley Bank more about exploring a systemic or architecture-based viewpoint on exploring various aspects of data – ranging from an overview on data technologies, data integration, data analytics, data governance, and industry usage of data.

For more information about this particular topic, or questions about the event, please email Professor Scott Frees at sfrees@ramapo.edu and we will be happy to assist you.

You won’t want to miss this exciting and informative Graduate Lecture Series Event.

Register Now

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October 11, 2021Using Machine Learning to Analyze and Predict the Movement of Horseshoe Crabs in Long Island Sound - Recording

We want to thank Dr. Samah Senbel for the wonderful talk on using Machine Learning to analyze the movement of Horseshoe Craps in the Long Island Sounds. In case you missed it, her talk can be viewed here.

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January 21, 2021From Data Ethics to Data Justice: The Challenge of Building Better Worlds through Data Science

Dr. Andrea Pitts, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte will be describing this new new branch of study within applied ethics, a subfield in professional ethics that includes areas of research and practice such as computing ethics, media ethics, and biomedical ethics. This new branch of applied ethics responds, specifically, to novel applications and technologies for data storage, maintenance, and processing that add new layers to the study of morally relevant considerations within information ethics, business ethics, and AI ethics, for example.

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August 22, 2020Convolutional Neural Networks for Face Recognition

We are happy to announce that Dr. Ausif Mahmood has rescheduled his talk on Convolutional Neural Networks this fall virtually.

Dr. Mahmood is the Director of The School of Engineering at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT. His research areas involve Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning – bridging ties between Computer Science and Data Science.

Please join us virtually on September 17th at 1:00pm – 2:00pm. Registration is required, registrants will receive web conferencing information a few days prior to the event.

You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about Ramapo’s new Data Science programs, launching this coming fall.

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August 6, 2020MSDS - Fall 2020 Course Delivery Update

As we look forward to the start of our Fall 2020 semester, we wanted to share with you our plans for course delivery starting in September.

As you hopefully know, Ramapo College is required to adhere with the State of New Jersey’s phased reopening plan. This plan identifies which activities and classes colleges and universities may conduct on campus, and the precautions we must take.

Based on current public health conditions as of August 3rd, NJ is currently still in Phase 2 – which prohibits on-campus meetings for all courses other than laboratory (i.e. biology labs) and studio (i.e. theatre) meetings. Regrettably, this means our MSDS courses will not meet on campus this coming semester, and will be conducted virtually.

As you know, MSDS had planned for all three of our Fall courses (DATA 601, MATH 570, and CMPS 530) to meet for approximately one hour each Thursday evening, with the rest of the course instruction asynchronous and online. Our virtual instruction format will be quite similar – each of the three MSDS courses will include synchronous WebEx (or Zoom) meetings on Thursday evenings, as scheduled. The individual instructors for each course will soon be in contact with you concerning the details for their particular course. Each of us have experience teaching in this format, and while we prefer us all to be on campus in the classroom, we are confident the mix of synchronous and asynchronous online instruction will be a success.

International Students: Please contact the Roukema Center, specifically Rajesh Adhikari (adhikar@ramapo.edu), to discuss your student visa status. There have been a number of USCIS delays due to the pandemic, along with specific federal policy changes concerning visa status for students in 100% online programs. Rajesh Adhikari can discuss your options with you.

Many of you have already received a bill for the Fall 2020 semester. There are three fees associated with these bills that require your attention:

Health Insurance Reminder: As indicated in a previous email, your bill will include healthcare insurance students may purchase through Ramapo. If you already have health insurance, you may opt out. Click here to opt out or email the Office of Student Accounts at studentaccts@ramapo.edu.

Parking Lab Fees: Since we will not have classes on campus, most of you will not utilize campus parking unless coming to campus for other reasons. If you do not intend on coming to campus, you may complete a waiver to avoid parking fees. Parking charges are NOT REMOVED from student accounts; they are offset by the credit of the waiver transaction. STUDENT ACCOUNTS WILL REFLECT BOTH THE CHARGE AND THE CREDIT.

Course Lab Fees: We are in the process of reviewing all courses across the campus to determine which courses will still have computer lab fees – due to their dependence on remote / cloud hosted software that the College maintains whether students are physically present or not. Lab Fees for courses that do not fit into this category will be credited to your account. In all likelihood, MSDS courses will not have a lab fee. Please be patient as we work through this process.

As a reminder to all, the Fall schedule can be found here. For those of you who have not yet registered for your courses, or have not set up your Ramapo College email, please take a look at Admissions’ guide for admitted students. To complete the MSDS in 2 years, we advise students to register for DATA 601, CMPS 530, and MATH 570 in the Fall semester. DATA 601 and CMPS 530 are of particular importance, as they are prerequisites for courses you will take in the Spring ‘21 semester.

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