In the News

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This Master’s in AI Program Is a Cross-University Collaboration. Here’s How Students Will Learn.

Elke Rundensteiner, the William Smith Dean's Professor of Computer Science and founding head of the WPI data science program, spoke with BestColleges about the university's new master's degree in artificial intelligence

Nature

Provost Wole Soboyejo was interviewed for the article in Nature, "Is it time for tenure to evolve?" In the article, he discusses his own pathway towards tenure as well as WPI's move to broaden its tenure system in 2021, offering tenure to professors who focus more on teaching than research, who weren't eligible before. "Already, the institution is seeing benefits, says Soboyejo, including a substantial drop in the attrition rate for teaching-focused faculty members."

Spectrum News 1

Spectrum News 1 interviewed interim President Winston “Wole” Soboyejo about continuing his research even after taking on more administrative responsibility at the university, and the importance of remaining connected with students at WPI.

The Business Journals

Provost Wolo Soboyejo was interviewed for the article which appeared in The Business Journals chain of newspapers across the country, including in Washington, Denver, Albany, and Memphis. “I think this is a conversation that our peers should be having across the country,” Soboyejo said. “I think it's an important dialogue that could really help shape the future of higher ed. How do we give security and academic freedom to faculty so that they can engage our students in environments that are truly transformative?”

Worcester Business Journal

Provost Wole Soboyejo was quoted about The Global School in the Worcester Business Journal article, Hiring WPI's Global Dean Marks Milestone in International Projects Program. He told the WBJ that the school’s arrival–coinciding with a pandemic–brought a sense of deeper meaning: “It really addressed its greater sense of purpose,” Soboyejo said. “It helped identify the global great challenges, such as, ‘How do we bring teams together on matters like this, matters such as global public safety?’ It has shown that the school is more important than ever.” The article added, “The brainchild of WPI President Laurie Leshin, the school is an umbrella to existing units such as the Department of Integrative and Global Studies and the Global Experience office–which helps students ready for off-campus travel–as well as the Global Lab.

Provost and Senior Vice President Wole Soboyejo was quoted in the News Ghana article on a memorandum of understanding signed by WPI and Academic City University College for academic collaboration to implement an accelerated master’s degree and exchange programs.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

More than 70 media outlets, including the Latin Trade , Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and the Oklahoman carried the news of WPI welcoming 19 full-time educators and researchers to its faculty for the 2020-21 academic year. 

Spectrum News 1

Provost Wole Soboyejo appeared on Spectrum News 1 discussing his research in identifying targeted drugs that reduced the sizes of hard-to-treat breast cancer tumors in mice without inducing the toxic side effects that are typically associated with conventional chemotherapy.

Telegram.com

Provost Wole Soboyejo was interviewed by the Telegram & Gazette as WPI announced the launch of The Global School and its search for an inaugural dean. The Global School will reinforce WPI’s global project centers with students working on advanced degrees, as well as additional faculty support, and will lead to the development of more sophisticated and sustainable solutions to local issues, Soboyejo said.​

Boston Globe

The Boston Globe reported on WPI's launch of the Global School, which will build on the university's longstanding efforts to prepare students who are focused on science, engineering, and technology to have a significant impact on the major social, technological, ecological, and economic challenges facing people around the world. The article also noted that WPI is searching for an inaugural dean for The Global School.

Worcester Business Journal

The Worcester Business Journal reported on WPI receiving $3 million from the National Science Foundation to study human-robot interaction in the workplace. Eight WPI researchers are involved: Cagdas Onal (principal investigator), Yunus Telliel, Jeanine Skorinko, Winston Soboyejo, Jing Xiao, Pratap Rao, Soussan Djamasbi and Jane Li

 

Worcester Business Journal

The Worcester Business Journal carried the news of  Winston Oluwole Soboyejo being named provost and senior vice president.

Associated Press

The Associated Press quoted WPI Provost ad interim Winston Soboyejo in its article about the Worcester Red Sox partnering with a California tech startup to open what’s billed as the first autonomous checkout store in a pro sports and entertainment venue. The team made the announcement about the new facility for the future Polar Park on campus yesterday. “WPI is dedicated to creating the workforce of the future, which will include cutting-edge fields like AI, machine learning, and data and computer science,” Soboyejo said. WPI is the academic technology advisor for the team.

Telegram.com

The Telegram & Gazette’s College Town lead off with the news of WPI rolling out its bachelor’s degree program in data science. The article quoted Elke Rudensteiner, Data Science Program director, “As the availability of vast amounts of digital data increasingly impacts all facets of our daily lives, from health to business to entertainment, it is critical that we build a pipeline of programs to equip more students with the necessary skills for these 21st-century jobs,” she said.