Pitt Alum, Ben Wilson, joins University's Department of Economics MQE Advisory Board

PITTSBURGH - May 21, 2020 - PRLog -- In its inaugural year, the Master of Science in Quantitative Economics (MQE) Program is an intensive 8-month professional degree program that equips students with the quantitative, analytical and communication skills needed to identify and resolve complex economic issues using a broad spectrum of quantitative techniques useful across contexts in the private, public and non-profit sector.

The MQE Program reflects the faculty's strive for excellence as the curriculum prepares students to inform economic decision making with sophisticated data analysis while effectively communicating these analyses and their implications. MQE is a professional STEM-designated degree and graduates meet employers' demand for professionals who master analytic methods and techniques of data-driven economics.

The MQE Advisory Board, comprised of industry leaders in economics and data science, serves as consultants to the director and faculty on coursework and provides professional opportunities for students. These nominations reflect the Board member's stature and accomplishments in their relevant industries and will lend credibility to the MQE program as each provides feedback on coursework and career paths for students and graduates.

A 1999 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Ben takes great pride in returning to his alma mater and sharing his expertise and insight to help shape the growing MQE program. Rivers Agile CEO, Ben Wilson remarked, "It's an honor to be recognized by the Board as a regional technical leader and The University of Pittsburgh is an institution that I'm very proud to be a part of. Pitt continues to lead with innovative, new programming and I believe this is an area of research and education that is directly applicable to our tech landscape moving forward." He continued, "I actually can't wait for someone to graduate from this program so I can hire them."

"As more and more companies look toward data to inform their decisions, the demand for individuals able to interpret and translate complex data while also analyzing the consequences of different choices is steadily increasing," said Luca Rigotti, the degree's program director and an associate professor in the Department of Economics. "We recognized this growth in recent years and realized there was an opportunity to help foster and mentor future professionals in this field. We're excited to see how successful this program can be."

To learn more about The Master of Science in Quantitative Economics (MQE) Program, visit https://www.mqe.pitt.edu. For more information about Ben Wilson, visit his LinkedIn profile at www.linkedIn.com/in/wilsonben or learn more about his company, Rivers Agile, at www.riversagile.com/.