Jackson State University’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) today named Dr. Gordon Skelton as director of Data Sciences, Engineering and Intelligence.
The new post brings together areas of interests from across campus, said CSET Dean Dr. Richard Alo.
“The College of Science, Engineering and Technology is very excited about having Dr. Skelton, who has a significant background in big data and applications in big data, to spearhead this program focused on the data sciences, engineering and intelligence,” Alo said.
“It’s a real honor to be selected for this position and I look forward to working with the students and faculty at JSU,” Skelton said.
A professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering, Skelton has directed CSET’s Center for Defense Integrated Data located at the Mississippi eCenter at JSU since 2005.
The primary area of interest by Skelton has been in software engineering, big data and cybersecurity. He received his Ph.D. from the University of South Africa and master’s of science at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Jackson State was one of the first universities in the nation to offer a doctoral degree in big data. “It was approved by the Institutions of Higher Learning in February, 2014, under the name of computational and data enabled science and engineering,” Alo said.
Intelligence includes cybersecurity, the ability to gain intelligence and creation of knowledge from big data through public and private contracts, Alo explained. That can include business, social research, chemistry and biology, he said. It’s a national need and one that is growing.
Alo said that the White House in March 2012 through the Office of Science Technology Policy announced that the study of big data and the knowledge of big data is a national priority.
“This has been echoed since that time by national corporations, big business, major research labs, military organizations and aspects of the American economy,” Alo said.
“We recognize that within the smallest raindrop there are literally billions of bits of data, so it can help in university settings to use analytics to apply,” Alo said. “It has theoretical and applied components.”
Skelton will bring a new function in the college of CSET that brings together a community of undergraduate and graduate students into degree programs, Alo said. The College expects to go forward with a master’s degree to support the already approved doctorate. The program will include health sciences and the college of business, among others, he said.
For more information, contact Alo at 601-979-2153.