Current UW Applied Computing Advisory Board Members
The online Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing is supported by an advisory board consisting of 8 to 12 representatives from the industry who serve as advisors, ambassadors, and referral agents to the program.
The advisory board meets bi-annually, and members provide constructive feedback regarding changes in the industry and how those changes affect program graduates. The meetings ensure the program and curriculum stays relevant to trends in applied computing. Board members are also asked to host students working on capstone projects, and create smooth school-to-work transitions, so that as students graduate from the program they will move to gainful employment.
The advisory board provides recognized leaders in the field with a unique opportunity to further shape the program and applied computing profession. Learn more about the Advisory Board Member Responsibilities and Advisory Board Guidelines.
If you’re interested in joining the advisory board, please complete the Advisory Board Member Questionnaire for consideration. We’ll be in touch after submission regarding next steps.
Tejaswi Agarwal, Senior Engineer, Uber Technologies Inc. Tejaswi is a Senior Engineer at Uber Technologies Inc., driving innovation in distributed systems and real-time data infrastructure. At Uber, Tejaswi spearheads the development of software systems that process 1 million requests per second, serving over 150 million users globally each month. His work has been crucial in modernizing legacy systems, improving reliability, and significantly improving user retention. With a decade of experience in high-tech companies, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of software engineering. Previously, as a founding team member of Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse Cloud, Tejaswi played a key role in developing critical technologies, such as high-performance data loading capabilities, which now serve major customers in banking, finance, and airlines. Tejaswi holds an MS in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research, published in top computer science conferences, has influenced millions of users worldwide through integration into leading consumer and business applications. Tejaswi serves on advisory boards for tech startups, mentors aspiring engineers, and shares his expertise at industry conferences, driving innovation and fostering growth across the tech ecosystem.
Kaitlyn Bymers, Manager of IS PMO, UW Health. Bymers has been with UW Health for over 17 years, working to improve patient care through the use of technology. She is responsible for a team of project managers who lead cross functional teams (including Enterprise Analytics and Applied Data Science) to deliver value for patients and staff. Analytics and data informed decisions are a crucial part to the success of the work her teams do, and she’s committed to developing staff in these areas. Bymers has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Business from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, as well as a Master’s Degree in Project Management from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville.
Vinny Carpenter, Vice President of Cloud and DevOps Engineering, Northwestern Mutual. Carpenter has 30 years of experience and substantial success in directing enterprise-wide software development, engineering, and architecture efforts in education, manufacturing, financial services, and investment management. Carpenter has worked for large global multinationals to small entrepreneurial companies. He graduated from Marquette University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering.
Fulton “Derrick” Edwards, President and Chief Technical Officer, AGS Systems. Derrick Edwards has over 35 years’ experience in the commercial software development, consulting, and data analysis industry. He received his Undergraduate Degree in Software Systems Design from the University of Alabama and his Master of Science in Computer Science from UW River Falls. At UW System he has worked on the UWRF Innovation Challenge, Innovator-in-Residence, and Bridgeway Scholars programs. He is a PADI certified Master Scuba Diver and photography enthusiast with an interest in shipwreck photogrammetry.
Sarang Gupta, Staff Data Scientist, Asana. Gupta serves as a founding data scientist on the Asana AI team. With over 8 years of experience in maching learning and data science, he has made contributions to enterprise-grade ML applications and academic research. Gupta holds an MS in Data Science from Columbia University and a dual degree (BEng in Industrial Engineering and BBA in Business Management) from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), where he graduated first in his class. His professional journey includes experience at Goldman Sachs, Hong Kong and research contributions at the Brown Institute for Media Innovation (a collaboration between Stanford and Columbia University).
Karthikeyan Ilangovan. Karthikeyan is a Data Analytics technology leader with 15 years of experience driving Analytics & Business Intelligence transformations within Fortune 500 firms, including Capital One, Altice, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Neiman Marcus, enabling them to become data-driven powerhouses. His expertise lies in modernizing Analytics & BI infrastructure, democratizing data analytics, automating analytics processes, fostering innovation, and delivering strategic Bespoke Analytics Insights at the enterprise level. Outside the corporate world, he is committed to giving back to society and currently serves as the Board Member and Technology & Research Director at ESAL, empowering STEM professionals to engage actively with local communities and shape government policies. He also serves as the Big Data Framework Ambassador and partners with the Dallas Innovation Advisory Council, Harvard Business Review Council, 3AI, IEEE, IET, and several other technology & research communities.
Niti Jain, Software Engineer, Salesforce. Jain graduated from Texas A&M University with a masters in computer science. She has six years of experience as a software engineer. At Salesforce, she works in the Identity space focused on authorization and authentication at scale across Salesforce’s ecosystem. Her interest lies in the area of distributed systems, identity and machine learning.
Liz Mazzara, Client Solutions Manager, Robert Half Technology. Mazzara is an accomplished alumnus of North Dakota State University, where she excelled int he fields of Mathematics, Communication, and Science. With over 25 years of experience in the retail industry, she now brings her expertise to Robert Half Technology, where she collaborates closely with AI, Data, Security, and Infrastructure professionals in the Wisconsin market. Outside of her professional endeavors, Mazzara enjoys spending quality time with her two daughters and traveling the globe alongside her husband, exploring new and exciting destinations.
Muhammad Siddiqui, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Reid Health. Muhammad Siddiqui is a forward-thinking healthcare technology executive known for his servant leadership style and deep commitment to improving patient and provider experiences through digital advancement. With a career spanning health systems across the U.S. and internationally, he brings a strong focus on enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, and scalable systems that drive both operational clarity and clinical value. As Chief Information & Digital Officer at Reid Health, Muhammad is responsible for steering the organization’s digital and IT strategy. He works closely with executive and board leadership to align technology investments with enterprise priorities, helping teams navigate complexity and deliver meaningful results. A trusted advisor across the C-suite, Muhammad is recognized for his ability to unify stakeholders, lead high-performing teams, and execute on enterprise initiatives with both strategic foresight and practical precision. He brings a global perspective and a strong foundation in data-driven decision-making, enterprise architecture, and platform consolidation. Muhammad remains deeply committed to advancing digital fluency across the healthcare workforce, advocating for equitable access to technology, and building resilient systems that support long-term growth and innovation.
Daniel Meighen, Senior Programmer Analyst, City of Green Bay. Daniel Meighen graduated from UW–Green Bay with a degree in Computer Science and from UW–Stout with a Master’s in Information and Communication Technology. As a Senior Programmer Analyst his primary focus is enterprise business analysis and full-stack development solutions. Much of his work has included financial systems, GIS development and integration, document management systems, workflow automation, and third-party software integrations. He also teaches courses for Rasmussen University’s School of Technology and has contributed to curriculum development.
Joe Pfiffner, Director of Information Technology, Sentry Insurance. Pfiffner graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in Management Information Systems and has his Master’s in Business Administration from UW–Whitewater. He has worked for Sentry Insurance for 19 years, starting as a software developer, and has been Director of Software Development for the last 8 years. His IT focus has primarily been on application development in Java and .Net, and he is also responsible for imaging solutions, publishing systems, document management systems, shared service applications, print/mail/scanning operations, various vendor platforms, remittance processing, and support of legacy mainframe systems.
Carl Schweitzer, Senior Software Development Engineer, Microsoft. Schweitzer graduated from UW–Green Bay with a degree in computer science. As an engineer, he works with some of Microsoft’s largest partners, advising and enabling them to ship new products and features to the cloud even faster. Schweitzer has 2 decades of experience in manufacturing and over 10 years of experience in building IoT applications. In addition to his professional experience, he speaks at local and regional software engineering conferences, and assists with running the Northeast Wisconsin Developers User Group and the Milwaukee Code Camp. He also volunteers at his local high school teaching Computer Science.
Brandon Ward, Manager of Data Science and AI/Automation, UW Health. Ward is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in Applied Mathematics. In his current role, he works to manage a core group of data scientists and machine learning engineers, while driving forward machine learning, NLP, RPA and emerging technologies initiatives. Outside of work Ward enjoys spending time with his family, playing Rugby, and weightlifting.