Data-Driven Decision Making: Analytics Essentials

Professor Rick Cleary is a distinguished statistician and mathematician at Babson College, where he serves as Professor and Chair of the Division of Mathematics and Science. With a diverse background spanning academia and practical applications, Cleary's expertise covers statistics, biomechanics, market research, and sports analytics. Prior to joining Babson in 2013, he held teaching positions at prestigious institutions including St. Michael's College, Cornell University, Bentley University, and Harvard University. Cleary has been actively involved in the Mathematical Association of America, serving on its Executive Committee as Associate Treasurer and contributing to various committees. His research interests encompass a wide range of fields, including sports statistics, biomechanics, and statistical approaches to fraud detection and audit risk. At Babson, Cleary teaches courses on business analytics and statistics, and is involved in several educational programs including "Analytics for Decision Making," "Business Principles and Entrepreneurial Thought," "AI and Data Analytics for Business Leaders," and "Financial Decision-Making for Leaders." Known for his ability to make statistics accessible and engaging, Cleary frequently gives talks and workshops to improve statistics education at all levels.

Dr. Nathan Karst is an Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics at Babson College, bringing a unique blend of engineering and mathematical expertise to his role. With a B.S. in electrical and computer engineering from Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (2007) and a doctorate in applied mathematics from Cornell University, Dr. Karst exemplifies interdisciplinary excellence in STEM fields. His academic prowess is evidenced by his receipt of the Dean's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2014 and the Dean's Award for Excellence in Scholarship in 2015. Dr. Karst's recent research focuses on the application of nonlinear dynamics to microvascular networks and event-scale streamflow recession variability, demonstrating his ability to apply complex mathematical concepts to real-world phenomena. At Babson, he contributes to several key programs, including "Analytics for Decision Making," "Business Principles and Entrepreneurial Thought," "AI and Data Analytics for Business Leaders," and "Financial Decision-Making for Leaders." Through his teaching and research, Dr. Karst plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between advanced mathematical theory and practical business applications, preparing students to leverage quantitative skills in entrepreneurial and business contexts.

Dr. Davit Khachatryan is an Associate Professor of Statistics and Analytics at Babson College, bringing a wealth of expertise in applied statistics, machine learning, and data science to his role. With a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr. Khachatryan's research interests span a wide range of areas including time series analysis, predictive modeling, and applications of machine learning and natural language processing in corporate settings. His work has been published in prestigious journals such as the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society and IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

George Recck serves as Senior Lecturer and Director of the Math Resource Center at Babson College, where he has taught since 1984. As Chair of the Business Analytics/Statistics Education special interest group for the American Statistical Association, he leads initiatives to advance statistical education practices nationwide. Beyond his academic role, he founded Total Information, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in information services for small businesses. His expertise spans information technology in education, classroom technology integration, and mathematics education. His work combines academic excellence with practical business applications, making him particularly effective in bridging theoretical concepts with real-world business scenarios. Through his leadership at Babson's Math Resource Center, he continues to innovate in mathematics education while providing essential support to students and faculty alike.

Babak Zafari serves as Assistant Professor of Analytics and Statistics in Babson College's Math & Science Division, bringing extensive expertise in predictive modeling and healthcare fraud analytics. His academic credentials include a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Sharif University of Technology, M.S. in Operations Research/Computer Science from Bowling Green State University, and Ph.D. in Decision Sciences from The George Washington University School of Business. Before joining Babson, he worked as a Visiting Assistant Professor at The George Washington University School of Business and served as a senior statistician consultant at Integrity Management Services, where he developed statistical models for fraud detection in Medicare and Medicaid programs. His research interests span predictive modeling, data mining methods for business applications, Bayesian statistics, healthcare fraud analytics, and online auctions. His work combines theoretical expertise with practical applications, particularly in developing innovative approaches to detect and prevent healthcare fraud through advanced statistical modeling.