SAS Global Academic Programs honors educators worldwide for distinguished achievements

SAS educator awards celebrate global leaders in data and AI

CARY, N.C., April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Data and AI leader SAS is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2025 SAS Educator Award, honoring educators who have shown exceptional dedication to their students and leadership in promoting the use of SAS software, AI and data education.

"As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, the role of dedicated educators in preparing the next generation of data and AI professionals has never been more critical. These educators are bringing modern software into their classrooms, fostering innovation and adaptability in their academic communities," said Liz Moran, Director of Academic Programs and Certification at SAS. "We are proud to recognize their excellence in education and their impact on shaping the future of analytics and AI."

These distinguished educators have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to integrating SAS tools into their teaching and engaging with SAS Global Academic Programs. They will be recognized for their work at SAS Innovate in Orlando in May. Their use of SAS software has not only enhanced their own teaching but has also inspired their academic communities.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 SAS Educator Award:

Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

• Agnieszka Kucharska from Warsaw University of Technology (Poland) is a distinguished academic specializing in information and communication technology (ICT) in the public sector. She coordinates the SAS – Warsaw University of Technology Academic Specialization in Visual Data Analysis and was the first EMEA speaker at the SAS Powered Educators meetups. Her courses cover e-business, the digital economy and data visualization.
• Carlos Poza from Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (Spain) is an associate professor leading the Business Analytics program and holds a Ph.D. in applied economics. With over 20 years of experience, he integrates AI into business processes and collaborates with organizations like SAS to optimize decision making. His expertise spans data science and business intelligence.
• Rénette Julia Blignaut from the University of the Western Cape (Africa) heads the Department of Statistics and Population Studies and manages UWC's Data Science postgraduate programs. With 33 years of academic experience and over 75 peer-reviewed articles, she has received many accolades, including the 2021 SAS Thought Leader Award.

Americas

• Krzysztof Dzieciolowski from Concordia University (Canada) is a part-time faculty member with over 30 years of experience in data science and teaching. He has developed innovative programs like the Data Intelligence Minor and the M.Sc. in Data Science. His work bridges academia and industry, fostering career opportunities for students.
• Vijayan Sugumaran from Oakland University (United States) is a Distinguished University Professor specializing in Big Data Management and Analytics. He oversees the SAS-Oakland University Academic Specialization and has published over 350 peer-reviewed articles. Under his leadership, Oakland University has won consecutive SAS Hackathons.
• José Aragão from Centro Universitário Farias Brito (Brazil) is an Associate Professor teaching data science and AI in postgraduate programs. He mentors students in global competitions like The Curiosity Cup and contributes significantly to SAS education in Brazilian higher education.

Asia Pacific (AP)

• Jacky Mo from the University of New South Wales is a Senior Lecturer specializing in Marketing and Data Analytics. His research explores behavioral decision-making using advanced analytical techniques. He provides hands-on experience in data analysis using SAS in his courses.
• Abdul Razak Abdul Hadi from Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School (Malaysia) specializes in corporate finance and financial economics. He advises subject matter experts and conducts nationwide seminars on entrepreneurship and business intelligence. He has published over 90 research articles and is an active trader in Bursa Malaysia.

Learn more about SAS' academic programs and efforts in AI education.

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