Category: March 2021

SMU, on behalf of the University’s AT&T Center for Virtualization, has executed a Navy Cooperative Research and Development Agreement  with the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific). The research facility in San Diego provides the U.S Navy and military with essential capabilities in the areas of command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber and space.

SMU will benefit from NIWC Pacific’s access to technical data, says Suku Nair, Center director and a University Distinguished Professor in the Lyle School of Engineering. The Navy research facility will benefit from SMU’s expertise in virtualization technologies including enterprise and telecom virtualization, artificial intelligence/machine learning, cyber security, and in application of reliability, supportability and cyber security to defense systems. NIWC Pacific will also gain improved access to Dallas/Fort Worth defense contractors including Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Bell Textron, Boeing and Elbit.

As a result of the agreement, SMU students trained in data science, statistical science, computer science, software engineering, cyber security and systems engineering will be well-positioned for recruitment opportunities in careers supporting U.S. Department of Defense initiatives.

Read more at SMU Research.

The Mustangs kick off the season in Ford Stadium against Abilene Christian September 4 and open conference play at home against USF October 2. Find the schedule and ticket information here.

Vishal Ahuja is on a mission to reduce spending by applying business practices, grounded in operations management and analytics principles, to the health care world.
An assistant professor of information technology and operations management at SMU Cox and an adjunct professor of clinical sciences at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Ahuja leans on his years of experience in the corporate world to apply principles of operations management and data analytics to local healthcare data and improve patient outcomes and efficiency of care.
Ahuja works with health care providers to gain access to patient data and uses algorithms to predict outcomes and prevent negative ones. His research focuses on patients with diabetes, especially veterans, who suffer disproportionately from this disease. Addressing diseases before patients land in the hospital can significantly reduce healthcare spending.
Read more at Cox School.

The 2021 recipients of the Woodrow B. Seals Laity Award, presented by Perkins School of Theology, are Kirk Franklin, a Grammy-award winning gospel artist and member of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship; Nancy Seay, a philanthropist and elder of Highland Park Presbyterian Church; and Lisa Tichenor, an active community leader and lay member of Highland Park United Methodist Church.
The awards will be presented during the online worship service that is part of the Perkins Summit for Faith and Learning Friday, March 19 at 4:45 p.m. Mary White, the 2020 recipient of the Seals Laity Award, will also be honored at that virtual event.
Read more at Perkins School.