The head of the Center for Data Science, Analytics and Information Technology at the University of Akron has resigned in light of budget issues.
Mario R. Garzia was named executive director of the center in September 2015 by former UA President Scott Scarborough, who resigned earlier this year.
The center was one of Scarborough’s initiatives, designed to house related interdisciplinary degrees such as computer science, computer information systems, computer engineering and management information systems under one roof.
The center, which is part of the Office of Academic Affairs, will continue to operate with existing academic leadership coordinating its activities.
University officials said the center wasn’t a bad idea, but it is too costly to operate under the current budget. It cost UA about $500,000 to run the center including Garzia’s annual salary of $295,000. In his resignation letter to UA interim President Matthew Wilson, Garzia wrote:
“... I recognize that the University is under some constraints that might impact the opportunities for the Center going forward. In recognizing that the situation has changed, I think it is a good time to depart.”
In accepting the letter Wilson responded: “While our financial challenges are such that we will not be in a position to fund the Center as had been hoped, we are fortunate that we have a solid foundation of courses and degree programs in this growing area. These interdisciplinary offerings include computer science, computer information systems, computer engineering, management information systems, mathematics, economics and statistics, among others.”
Garzia, a former Microsoft executive, is a UA graduate. In his role as head of the center, he was also part of an aggressive advertising campaign to attract new students that showcased prestigious graduates of UA.
The campaign, called “Are You Out There?” cost about $900,000 and was launched Labor Day weekend last year. It was part of the effort to rebrand UA as Ohio’s polytechnic university. It ran three months. The ad campaign had various components including a deal with Akron native and Cavaliers player LeBron James, who agreed to participate, without pay, by filming one commercial a year for five years. He filmed his second commercial last weekend.
Garzia asked in his resignation letter that the university no longer use his name, photographs or videos in university advertisements and marketing materials.
In other UA staffing news, Lakeesha Ransom, vice provost and dean of the Dr. Gary R. and Pamela S. Williams Honors College, will assume additional duties as interim chief diversity officer for no additional pay.
Ransom, who was dean of the University of Toledo’s Jesup Scott Honors College, was hired by Scarborough in June 2015 to take on similar duties at UA. Her current salary is $226,000.
Her new role will become effective Sept. 1 after the Rev. Carl Wallace serves out his term as the interim director. He was hired by Scarborough in the interim spot after Lee Gill left to become chief diversity officer for Clemson University. Wallace started on May 2 and will work until Aug. 31. He was paid $36,000.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.