UW–The School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences welcomes industry veteran to support growing high-tech and engineering partnerships

10/21/2021

The School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences (CDIS) continues to strengthen its partnership with industry, from tech to manufacturing and everything in between, with the hiring of industry veteran, Dean Welch.

Welch joins the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) and the Office of Business Engagement (OBE) and as Business Engagement Manager, where he will help companies make the most of UW–Madison’s extensive high-tech research, talent, outreach, and philanthropic solutions.

“With world-class research and thousands of students in high demand fields UW–Madison is positioned to partner with industries in Wisconsin and beyond to inspire innovation and increase competitiveness,” said CDIS founding director Tom Erickson. “As our team grows, so does the collaboration that takes place between the university and industry partners enhancing a key dimension of the Wisconsin Idea 2.0.”

“Dean brings a wealth of knowledge to the university that will benefit our existing campus partnerships as well as foster new relationships in some of the fastest-growing industries,” said Christopher Kozina, assistant vice chancellor, industry engagement. “His experience in sales, marketing, and business development will be a major asset to CDIS, OBE, and UW–Madison.”

Prior to joining UW–Madison Welch served as Executive Vice President at IT Convergence, a global leader in cloud services. Serving in various executive roles with the company, Welch spearheaded the company’s global expansion into Argentina, Mexico, India, and Costa Rica, and championed gender equity on the executive team. He earned his bachelor’s degree in German Literature and Integrated Liberal Studies at UW–Madison.

 

About the Office of Business Engagement

The Office of Business Engagement (OBE) serves as UW–Madison’s central campus liaison to business and industry partners, helping them connect with schools, colleges, and other units on campus. By helping companies navigate student recruitment, research partnerships, philanthropic opportunities, executive education, and technology transfer, OBE seeks to create shared value by fostering mutually beneficial relationships between industry and the university.

About the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences

The School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS) at UW–Madison was launched in 2019 and brings together the top-ranked departments of Computer SciencesStatistics, and the Information School. The School is home to the University’s largest major, Computer Sciences (CS), and the fastest-growing major, Data Science (DS).  Student pathways from across campus include CDIS. 40% of CS students and 60% of DS students are double-majors, coming from 75 other disciplines.  All three CDIS departments are ranked in the top 15 nationally, a unique accolade.  CDIS focuses its research, education, and outreach at the intersection of high tech and society.