Faculty Profiles
Faisal Akkawi
 Faisal
Akkawi began teaching before he had even completed his master's
degree--and he has been teaching ever since. In 2002, he
became one of the inaugural instructors in the MSCIS program
at SCS,
and was named its director in 2003. Along the way he has
been recognized for his research in "intelligent adaptable
software systems" by NASA's Ames Research Center.
FA: My goal as an instructor
is to match the topic to the class, rather than match the
class to my topic. If a student says, "I do this differently
at my company," we stop and discuss that student's
experience and apply it to what I'm teaching.
Q: Are many students industry professionals?
FA: Yes, and that distinguishes
this program. In fact, our students develop a tremendously
valuable network through MSCIS. I have seen quite a few students
be hired by one of their classmates or instructors.
Q: How would you describe this program
to someone who is considering a degree in information systems?
FA: The MSCIS is a state-of-the-art
degree that recognizes market needs, as demonstrated by the
fact that we are now engaged in our second curriculum revision
in two years! It is a program designed primarily for working
professionals who seek a hands-on, laboratory-based experience
that will broaden and deepen their knowledge of new and emerging
IT. The vast majority of our faculty members are industry
leaders--the best at what they do. Classes are offered on
nights and weekends, which allows the program to be completed
as quickly as one-and-a-half years--although it is flexible
enough for students to take up to five years for completion.
Q: Who should apply?
FA: Technology is part
of every aspect of our lives today. This program fits people
who want to understand how to communicate with technology,
people who want to advance their careers in technology and
those who want to switch careers. If you are a doctor who
wants to use technology to analyze data, this program will
help you. If you are a manager or CEO who is integrating technology
into your company, this degree is for you. If you are in IT
and want to know what's new in the field, this is the
program. These are just a few examples--MSCIS attracts a wide
range of professionals.
Atef Bader
 When
Atef Bader isn't teaching software engineering in the
MSCIS program or architecting software testing tools at Lucent,
you can find him honing his craft by reading technical articles.
AB: I like to keep up
with new research in the industry. I think that's a
big part of what students look for when they come to my class.
They are there to gain hands-on experience, and they appreciate
the fact that what they're learning comes directly from
the software industry. About 80 percent of the MSCIS instructors
work within the industry, and that makes our students better
prepared to complete real-life projects in the workplace.
Q: How would you describe your teaching
style?
AB: I've been teaching
in the program since it started three years ago. For me, teaching
is an outlet for communication, and it's very important
that the communication goes two ways. Students must ask questions
in my class. And it's very rewarding to see them make
progress as a result.
Q: Is there a "typical"
MSCIS student?
AB: I would say that the
majority of students are not coming from a computer science
background. Most of them are people who, at some point in
time, were asked to do IT-type work. But they don't
really have enough knowledge to take it very far. Downsizing
has resulted in a lot of businesses sending people back to
school-investing in current personnel rather than hiring.
Q: What is the value of the MSCIS degree
in the business world today?
AB: It's very simple.
Internet technology helps businesses improve productivity
and lower costs. This program helps students become proficient
in computer information systems, so that they can bring improved
productivity and lower costs to the companies they join.
Christopher Hield
Christopher Hield is software development and testing manager
at the Chicago Board Options Exchange. In the evenings he
teaches Object-Oriented Programming and Object-Oriented Analysis
and Design in SCS's MSCIS program. In between he makes
black-and-white photos that have been featured in Chicago
galleries.
Q: What was your first job as a computer
professional?
CH: While I was still in
college studying computer science, I started working at Argonne
National Laboratory. I stayed
at Argonne for 13 years doing software analysis, design,
and development. During that time I earned a master's
degree in computer science - my thesis was about
machine learning - by going to school at night. So
I understand what it's like for my Northwestern students
to work full-time and go to school.
Q: Why add teaching to your workload?
CH: Teaching forces me
to keep up to date in a way that focusing on work alone
wouldn't. To prepare for my classes
I review all the latest research and do a lot of experimentation
on my own. I like the environment at SCS because the students
value what they're learning and often want to apply
it to something they're involved with at work. They
ask detailed questions, sometimes about things I never
would have thought about. They want to look into the whys
of a subject.
Q: Not all MSCIS students have
IT backgrounds. How will they benefit from the program?
CH: By understanding
some of the principles behind technology they'll be able
to make more intelligent decisions
about technology in whatever work they do.
Q: What about students who are already
working in tech?
CH: If your tech foundation
is outdated, you can become more vulnerable to layoffs. The
MSCIS program brings students
up to speed on the latest developments. That knowledge
will open doors for them.
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