In this episode, Prof. Jie Ren speaks with Will Hisao from NYC Mayor’s Office of Operations, about the vision behind citywide public data dashboards, the challenges of managing large-scale, multi-agency datasets, and how public data can drive transparency, insight, and cross-sector collaboration. She is also joined by MSBA students, Faris Al-Dhahi, Amogha Manchinahalli Srikanta, and Kamrul Islam, who share their hands-on experiences working with real NYC datasets - reflecting on site visits, analytical methods, technical skills, and how applied public-sector projects deepened their understanding of city operations and data- driven decision-making.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Hector Madera Jr., Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon

In this episode, Prof. Jie Ren speaks with Terri Matthews, Director of Town+Gown: NYC @ NYC DDC, a citywide research program in the built environment, about how Town+Gown connects student-led experiential learning programs at academic institutions, like Fordham University, with NYC agencies with real research needs. These projects help tackle real-world public-sector challenges through evidence-based research. Together, Prof. Ren and Terri Matthews discussed how insights from student-led research projects may play into practice and policy changes over time, the technical and soft skills needed by students for impactful civic analytics, and how AI adoption is reshaping expectations for the next generation of students and public-sector analysts.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon

In this episode of “When Tech Meets Ed,” Prof. Jie Ren sits down with Yilu Zhou, PhD, to explore Zhou’s personal journey as a woman in tech. They discuss overcoming stereotypes, navigating imposter syndrome, and breaking the glass ceiling. The conversation also examines how AI is reshaping the workforce and what family support is needed to reduce the gender gap.

Host and Executive Producer: Jie Ren Producer: Olakunle Davies Additional Production: Victoria Ilano, Jeffrey Haynes Cover Art: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Artwork: "Emotion and Logic" by Jie Ren Marketing: Paola Curcio-Kleinman Music: ”The Epic Hero” by Keys of Moon