Simmons University’s College of Organizational, Computational, and Information Sciences (COCIS) welcomes seven new faculty members in the School of Business and the Division of Mathematics, Computing, and Statistics. “Our new faculty bring to Simmons extensive scholarly and professional experience, a deep commitment to our mission of ‘providing transformative learning that links passion with lifelong purpose,’ and a wide range of diverse perspectives and backgrounds,” says Marie desJardins, Dean of COCIS. “We look forward to welcoming them as we return to campus in the fall in our newly renovated spaces in Palace Road.”
The faculty members are Brian Daly, Online Program Director for Business; Katelyn Federico, Assistant Professor of Practice in the Division of Mathematics, Computing, and Statistics (MCS); Riti Gour, one-year visiting Computer Science contract faculty in MCS; Gokhan Karaatli, Associate Professor (NTT) in the School of Business; Aspen Olmsted, Professor of Practice and Program Director for Online Computer Science in MCS; Sylvia Singleton, Associate Professor of Practice in Accounting, School of Business; and Lauren Trichtinger, Assistant Professor of Statistics in MCS.
Originally from Boston, Brian Daly joins Simmons as Program Director for Online Business and Associate Professor of Practice after most recently serving as Managing Director of Executive Education and Adjunct Instructor in Management at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management - University of Missouri in Kansas City. He has experience in designing, managing, and delivering education programs for a diverse range of audiences, and values lifelong learning and innovative approaches to the instruction of complex leadership and business-related topics. Before relocating to Missouri, Brian helped to create and lead classroom and field-based training programs at the Harvard School of Public Health for audiences from around the world. He earned his Masters in Organizational Learning and Development from Suffolk University and a Bachelors in Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
“I’m incredibly excited to contribute to an institution with such a mission-driven legacy, to put creativity into practice, to teach on campus as well as online,” said Daly. “ I’m also thrilled to help lead degree completion programs that will help so many students fulfill their potential as leaders and Simmons graduates.”
Katelyn Federico joins the Division of Mathematics, Computing, and Statistics as an experienced data analyst and data visualization specialist. She is completing her Doctor of Education in Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership at Northeastern University, where she focuses on improving virtual learning environments for mathematics courses at the post-secondary level. Federico brings nearly a decade of professional analytic experience from her roles at Harvard University as a Data Analyst and Institutional Researcher. She also brings diverse teaching experience from her lectureship at Wentworth Institute of Technology, and online lectureship at Southern New Hampshire University, focusing on mathematics, statistics, and mathematical/statistical software. Federico earned her Master of Science in Applied Mathematics and Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media (Digital Video) from Northeastern University and Bachelor of Arts in Pure Mathematics from Boston University.
“I am excited to share my passion for mathematics, statistics, and data science with the Simmons community,” said Federico. “This fall, I am looking forward to using my professional and educational experiences to showcase how to use mathematics and data effectively to fuel strategic and data-driven decisions in real-world applications.”
Dr. Riti Gour recently finished her PhD from Advanced Networks Research Lab at the University of Texas at Dallas. Her research is focused on next-generation telecommunications networks, with an eye toward building protection and recovery mechanisms that can withstand diverse network demands and component failures. Her research explores combinatorial optimization and machine learning techniques for problem-solving in networks. She has published articles in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)/The Optical Society (OSA) Journal of Optical Communications and Networking. She has presented her research at conferences like The Optical Networking and Communication Conference & Exhibition and IEEE Global Communications Conference. Gour earned her Master’s in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas.
“I am excited for this opportunity to promote computer science education through mentoring the future generation of engineers and scientists,” said Dr. Gour. “At Simmons, the possibilities of interdisciplinary work for faculty members and students are endless, and I am looking forward to exploring some of those in the Fall semester along with my students.”
Prior to joining Simmons, Dr. Gokhan Karaatli held marketing faculty positions at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Indiana University Purdue University – Fort Wayne, Valparaiso University, and Curry College. He taught various marketing courses, including Marketing Management, Digital Marketing, and Consumer Behavior. His research interest is primarily in the areas of Consumer Behavior and Digital Marketing. Dr. Karaatli's research articles have been published in the Marketing Management Journal, the Journal of Marketing Perspectives, and the International Journal of Mobile Marketing, among others. Karaatli completed his PhD in Management (Marketing Concentration) from the Lally School of Management and Technology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York and an MBA in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.
“I am delighted to be a part of the Simmons community,” said Dr. Karaatli. “I enjoy contributing to students’ professional and personal development while we prepare them for a competitive and dynamic global environment. There are many different career opportunities in marketing, but marketing knowledge and skills are important for everyone, regardless of their career choice. I look forward to guiding our students as they explore and learn about the dynamic world of marketing.”
Dr. Aspen Olmsted was previously Professor and Program Director of Computer Science at Fisher College. Since 2012, Olmsted has presented research at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and International Academy, Research, and Industry Association (IARIA) conferences and received grant funding to analyze health care billing systems and cybersecurity. He earned his PhD and MBA from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Science in Computer Science from the College of Charleston.
“I am excited to be part of the combination of Simmons’ rich tradition of rigorous women-centered education with an interactive, technical, student-centered online degree completion program designed for working professionals,” said Dr. Olmsted.
Sylvia Singleton joins Simmons after serving as an Instructor and Director of the Graduate Program in Taxation at Suffolk University. She oversaw curriculum development and taught accounting and tax courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. A Massachusetts Certified Public Accountant since 2011, she operates a consulting practice specializing in tax, wealth management, and business advisory services. Singleton received her Master of Science in Accountancy from Northeastern University, a Master of Science in Taxation, and a Graduate Certificate in Personal Financial Planning from Bentley University.
“The accounting profession is going through an evolution,” says Singleton. “Organizations are searching for creative thinkers who are adept at foreseeing issues, allowing for the most effective and efficient deployment of resources. Simmons faculty are dedicated to helping students develop the adaptive skills needed to meet the demands of an ever-changing world. I am so happy to be joining in the effort.”
Dr. Lauren Trichtinger earned her PhD in Quantitative Psychology from the University of Notre Dame. Her methodological research topics include exploratory factor analysis, dynamic factor analysis, and intensive longitudinal analysis. Her dissertation explored different methods of handling missing data for intensive longitudinal data. Since 2016, she has served as a STEM Mentor for the Association for Women in Science and was a workshop leader at the Expanding Your Horizons In Mathematics and Science Conference, an event for middle school girls to learn through interactive experiences about STEM fields.
"I am excited to join the Division of Mathematics, Computing, and Statistics at Simmons,” said Dr. Trichtinger. “I love teaching and helping students gain an appreciation for statistical methods so that they can quantitatively explore diverse sets of problems across various fields.”