Capella University and SAS Award Four Full-Tuition Scholarships for Women in Analytics

The shortfall of big data and analytics professionals in the U.S. could reach 190,000 by 2018.* Women represent 47.4 percent of the labor force, yet fill only 25 percent of the STEM roles.** To combat these gaps, Capella University and global analytics leader SAS have joined forces and are proud to announce the winners of the first-ever Capella Women in Analytics scholarships. Created to encourage more women to enter and rise in the in-demand field of data analytics, the awards provide two women with full scholarships for Capella’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Data Analytics program and two women with full scholarships for Capella’s Master of Science in Analytics program.

Awarded for their passion and dedication to technology and data analytics, Tammy Barber, Molly Smith, Julianne Lewis and Chante’ Moy have received this honor and will use their scholarships to pursue their professional goals.

“I can continue learning without the distractions of financial hardship,” Moy explains. “I want to be the top performer in my line of work, and higher education is an important step for my career. Winning the scholarship is not just a milestone marking what I can accomplish, but it also encourages my sisters, co-workers, friends and a small group of girls I mentor.”

Recipients also will attend the upcoming Analytics Experience 2016 in Las Vegas and visit SAS corporate headquarters in Cary, N.C., where they will network with other analytics professionals, including those in the SAS Women’s Initiatives Network (WIN). WIN is a group of more than 600 female SAS employees who foster female leadership and professional excellence at SAS and reach into communities to encourage women to pursue STEM-related careers.

“Capella’s partnership with SAS is an opportunity to not only build a community of women supporting one another, but also to help advance the fast-growing and in-demand field of analytics,” said Shawna Thayer, PhD, Vice President of Data Strategy and Institutional Analytics at Capella University. “Capella is continually assessing ways for our educational offerings to solve problems, for individuals, for industries and on a national level.”

Capella and SAS first worked together in 2014 to launch Capella’s BS in IT – Data Analytics and BS in Business – Business Intelligence programs. In July 2015, Capella’s Master of Science in Analytics program launched to help meet the need for graduate-level professionals in data and analytics.

Learn more about the four Capella Women in Analytics scholarship winners here.

*Big Data Innovation, February 2016
https://issuu.com/innovationenterprise/docs/bd20

**McKinsey Global Institute, 2011
http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/business_technology/big_data_the_next_frontier_for_innovation

About Capella University
Capella University (www.capella.edu) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Founded in 1993, the university is dedicated to providing flexible, professionally aligned online degree programs designed to help working adults advance in their careers. As of June 30, 2016, more than 38,000 students were enrolled in Capella’s bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs. Known for its commitment to learner success, academic quality and innovations in online education, Capella pioneered competency-based direct assessment programs allowing students to learn at their own pace. Capella University is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company (NASDAQ: CPLA). For more information, call 1.888.CAPELLA (888.227.3552).

About SAS
SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative analytics, business intelligence and data management software and services, SAS helps customers at more than 80,000 sites make better decisions faster. Since 1976, SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW®.

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