Q and A: Kevin Dow, Ph.D., New AIS Department Chair
With decades of experience in industry and academia, Kevin Dow, Ph.D., comes to the Woody L. Hunt College of Business with a wealth of knowledge. Dow joined the college this semester as the new chair of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems.
Dow received his Ph.D. from the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of South Carolina and is a leading scholar in the field of Applied Accounting Analytics. Before coming to UTEP, Dow held faculty positions and taught industry executives on four continents.
His research interests meet at the intersection of accounting and data analytics. Dow's research focuses on the use of predictive analytics and machine learning to transform companies into learning organizations.
Below, Dow shares what drew him to UTEP, his vision for the department and how he's adjusted to life in the Borderland.
What drew you to UTEP?
UTEP embodies why I chose to become an educator: That a good education should both be accessible and affordable. A beautiful campus, UTEP is a globally respected university, with diverse academic programs that are not found at other universities.
What’s most important about UTEP is its people. Students, faculty, staff and external stakeholders come from different backgrounds with a similar goal of creating lifelong learners. It’s our hope these learners take every opportunity that leads them into a variety of challenging career paths.
What is your vision for the department?
I hope that I will contribute in providing students with an exceptional learning experience, so that UTEP can continue to be the preferred educational source for individuals in our community to become the next generation of accounting and information systems professionals in our binational community.
In the Accounting and Information Systems Department, our highest priority is to prepare our students to become productive members of our professions and communities. Research contributions from our world-class faculty are fundamental to augmenting our ability to provide competent and current instruction to students. Only through our teaching and research initiatives can we proactively respond to the evolving needs of our stakeholders and the industries at large.
A student wants to study business but is unsure what major to pick. Why would you advise them to choose accounting or information systems?
In today’s information age, all businesses rely on information systems. Modern organizations depend on graduates from IS or business analytics programs to analyze, design, implement and maintain these systems within an organization. The career pathways that stem from Information Systems are as numerous as they are diverse, including: systems analyst, data analyst, cybersecurity professional, network manager, database administrator, to name a few. Information systems professionals provide employers with timely business intelligence by mining big data to extract insights and relationships crucial for data-driven decision making.
Accounting is a respected profession known for integrity and ethics. To choose accounting is to choose one of the world’s most trustworthy professions. Accounting offers a range of career opportunities, from Certified Public Accountants – who generally provide tax-and audit-related services to clients; to Certified Management Accountants – who generally work on the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations; to Certified Fraud Examiners – who investigate fraud and provide expert opinions in a court of law. The accounting profession has a long history of producing trusted business advisors who make meaningful differences in the lives of stakeholders.
That said, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, accounting and information systems are excellent professions for the future, with above-average growth projections for the next decade.
What are your research interests?
My educational background and professional experiences have helped form the basis of what has become the core of my research agenda, the intersection of Accounting and Information Systems.
In particular, I have been fortunate to have worked as a controls engineer and an applications programmer. These professional experiences helped me understand the importance of having a data-driven organization. I became aware of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities to help organizations prepare for big data initiatives to get true value from the analytical results.
These experiences have guided my core research agenda to revolve around the concepts of Big Data, Data Analytics, and the Organizational Impact of IT. The past decade has witnessed a broad set of initiatives by CIOs and managers to improve the management of information to enhance the quality and productivity of their employees and enhance customer service. This includes the recent innovations around Big Data and Data Analytics.
How have you adjusted to life in El Paso so far?
Having been fortunate to have lived on three continents, I have learned to appreciate the differences that every culture offers. I have lived in a country where I did not speak the language and realized just how difficult it can be. Through these experiences, I recognize just how special a place like El Paso is – a truly unique binational experience that cannot be found anywhere else.
What struck me the most is the climate difference – I have always lived in coastal communities with high humidity – and the friendliness those in the El Paso community. Many may not realize it, but El Paso has an excellent quality of life; it’s a very clean city that enjoys very low housing prices and an extremely low crime rate. Although I have only lived here for a short time, this is clearly the best move that my family has made.