Business in Charlotte is booming – and this is just where UNC Charlotte student Ray Xie wants to be.
Xie is enrolled in the Master’s in Data Science and Business Analytics program, part of UNC Charlotte’s larger Data Science Initiative. The DSBA program is among the first of its kind in the region, and it gives students the opportunity to study the intersection of business, computer and information sciences, statistics and operations research. Graduates of this interdisciplinary program can be found working in fast-growing, data-intensive fields such as financial services, risk management, energy, retail and health analytics.
As a commissioned officer in the Army Reserves, Xie said he sees immense respect for the military in the United States, and from an early age, he was curious what it would be like. “For me, the Army was a place to fulfill the American Dream,” he said.
In the military, he’s learned the value of hard work, he’s gained resilience, and he’s had the opportunity to be a pioneer in his field. The DSBA program encourages pathfinders like Xie because, as he stated, “Data is the future.”
Joshua Hertel, director of Xie’s program, agrees: “Given (Xie’s) background in military intelligence, we feel there’s a real opportunity for him not only personally but also to help the program expand.”