Yi Deng, dean of the College of Computing and Informatics, recently received the CIO Award for Academic Leadership from the Charlotte Business Journal.
Deng, along with a number of other Charlotte-area chief information officers, were recognized for “using information technology in innovative ways to optimize business processes, enable growth, create competitive advantages and improve customer experience.”
Since joining UNC Charlotte in 2009, Deng has guided the College of Computing and Informatics through a period of strong enrollment growth and increased partnerships with business and industry. With more than 2,000 students seeking degrees, up from 900 only six years ago, the college now has the largest technology program in North Carolina and one of the largest in the United States.
The college has added a number of market-leading degree programs, including ones in data science and business analytics and health and financial services informatics, the dean pointed out in an article published in the Charlotte Business Journal. He added the college is exploring a degree in cybersecurity.
“I consider myself a builder. Everywhere I go, I was able to make the kind of changes that will benefit the organization in the long run,” Deng was quoted by the CBJ. He stated that technology is important to the businesses of the greater Charlotte region. “We have the capacity, the know-how, the quality, the programming and the willingness to work with our industry here. UNC Charlotte cannot grow, cannot become better and stronger without the support of our industry and our community.”