Monday, September 19, 2022
Media Contact: Bailey Stacy | Coordinator of Communication, Marketing and Communications 405-744-2700 | [email protected]
Spears Assist powered by InterWorks is now providing support and tutoring to Oklahoma State University students enrolled in the three core analytics courses taken by all business students.
A generous $200,000 donation from InterWorks, a global IT and data consulting business founded in 1996 by two-time business school alumnus Behfar Jahanshahi, is making it possible for Spears School of Business students to receive academic support to pursue a career in analytics.
“Spears Assist is modeled directly on Assist by InterWorks, which is our analytics support arm trusted by some of the world’s leading brands,” said Dustin Wyers, head of Assist for InterWorks. “Those in the Spears Assist program will use a similar system and learn the same skills that our consultants use directly with clients. Learning how to deal with a wide range of challenges and personalities is essential to being a good consultant, and that’s exactly what this program will provide.”
Spears Business has long been a leader in analytics education and continues to enhance the experience for students through the implementation of data analytics and visualization courses for all business majors, and also by encouraging the inclusion of data analytics in courses in all disciplines. The collaboration between Spears Business and InterWorks further strengthens the school’s commitment to creating the next generation of data analytics-savvy students.
“I am excited about our continued partnership with InterWorks and the work we are doing to advance our students’ data analytics skills,” said Dr. Evan Davis, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Department of Business Administration. “This program will not only benefit those selected as Spears Assistant interns, but will serve as a resource for all students within the Spears School of Business.”
Spears Assist uses undergraduate students as interns to support others in their analytics courses. These interns are selected based on their performance in analytics courses, and as part of the experience will also receive extensive training and be involved with projects at InterWorks. Spears Faculty Assistants Evan Davis and Kim Strom, assistant department head for the Department of Management Science and Information Systems (MSIS), will manage the interns and design their training opportunities.
“Spears Assist makes sense on many levels for both OSU and InterWorks,” said Jahanshahi, who was one of the inaugural inductees into the MSIS Department’s Cloud of Honor, designed to recognize and honor graduates of MSIS and analytics programs of OSU. “In Stillwater, you have a university that brings in about 25,000 students each year who are excited, energized and ready to learn. These students are looking for opportunities to apply what they have learned in a real-world context. Spears Assist gives OSU students an excellent opportunity to prepare for a career in analytics and gives InterWorks an even stronger pipeline for the next generation of talented data professionals.”
Jahanshahi received his bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) in 1998 and a master’s degree in Telecommunications Management (MSTM) in 2000 from OSU. He founded InterWorks during his time as an OSU student. Today, InterWorks employs over 250 individuals across the globe, including over 75 OSU alumni. They serve hundreds of clients in nearly every industry, from Twitter and Nike to OSU and Stillwater Medical Center.
In-person assistance is available in Business Building 205, Monday-Thursday, 1:00 p.m., and virtual assistance through Office365 TEAMS is available Monday through Thursday, 6-10 p.m. and Sunday, 1-9 p.m.
Visit the website for more information or to request assistance, https://business.okstate.edu/departments_programs/msis/spears_assist.html.
