Data analytics expert Olivia Liu Sheng has recently assumed her position as the W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair and Professor of the Department of Information Systems at Arizona State University (ASU). With four decades of experience in data analytics and information systems research, Sheng is set to play a crucial role in the W. P. Carey School of Business’s newly established Center for AI and Data Analytics for Business and Society.
The W. P. Carey Chair is a prestigious position within the business school, entrusted to individuals expected to be thought leaders, bridging theory and practice while contributing to research, teaching, and service that elevate the school’s standing with a significant societal impact. Olivia Sheng is globally recognized for her expertise in information systems research, with a current focus on leading responsible AI initiatives as part of ASU’s strategic efforts in AI and data analytics.
In 2019, the W. P. Carey Foundation’s generous donation of $10 million led to the creation of two W. P. Carey Distinguished Chairs to attract prominent professors who excel in teaching and research. Dean Ohad Kadan was appointed as the first W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair in Business in 2022, and Olivia Sheng now holds the second Distinguished Chair position within the information systems department.
Olivia Sheng’s appointment is expected to have a significant impact on the W. P. Carey School of Business as it launches various initiatives, programs, and certificates dedicated to applying AI in the business context. Her expertise is anticipated to further enhance these innovative efforts and shape the future of AI and data analytics in business.
Prior to her role at ASU, Olivia Sheng served as a President’s Professor and Emma Eccles Jones Presidential Chair of Information Systems at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. During her career, she established the Global Knowledge Management Center, focusing on research and education in business intelligence and analytics, and organized one of the earliest academic conferences on business analytics. She also has extensive experience as a faculty member at various universities worldwide.
As the W. P. Carey Distinguished Chair, Sheng will actively engage in PhD education and collaborate with students on mindful AI research topics.
Sheng’s early experiences and family background have shaped her approach to research and service. Her father’s innovative spirit and her family’s support cultivated her interest in problem-solving. She pursued quantitative business methods and received her bachelor’s degree from the National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. Despite societal expectations, she was drawn to disciplines traditionally considered outside her gender’s purview, such as math, science, and technology.
Her journey brought her to the United States, where she earned master’s and PhD degrees in computers and information systems from the University of Rochester in New York. Sheng’s research focuses on machine learning with large-scale data, with applications in online and social media user experiences, health analytics, distributed computing management, digital government, and telemedicine, among others. Her research projects have received funding from various organizations, including Overstock, Yahoo!, the U.S. Army, the National Science Foundation, IBM, Toshiba, Sun Microsystems, SAP University Alliance, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sheng is also the founder of Aculus, an IT startup specializing in business intelligence and big analytics solutions.
As she takes on her role at ASU, Sheng aims to leverage her research experience to expand the university’s capabilities. She emphasizes the importance of responsible AI, acknowledging its potential pitfalls such as bias, security risks, and privacy concerns. Sheng and her colleagues intend to explore ways to mitigate these risks and maximize AI’s benefits for society through mindful AI practices.
Pei-yu Chen, chair of the information systems department, welcomes Professor Sheng to the department and highlights her accomplishments as a renowned researcher and scholar. Sheng’s expertise in AI and data analytics is expected to further elevate ASU’s information systems department in areas of research, teaching, and corporate engagement.
In addition to her current work, Sheng expresses interest in studying AI applications for addressing challenges related to natural and manufactured disasters, climate change, mental health, and neurological issues, identifying numerous opportunities for meaningful impact in these areas.
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