From left to right: Melina Hoegger and Marissa Moise, participants in the University of West Georgia’s 2026 Analytics Day, which highlighted student achievement and innovation in data analytics.
What started more than a decade ago as an effort to connect students with area employers has transformed into one of the most anticipated events of the year for Richards College of Business. This spring, Analytics Day drew over 70 attendees – a record turnout that surprised even its organizers.
“The turnout this year was remarkable and actually exceeded expectations,” said Dr. Hilde Patron, associate dean and professor of economics for Richards College of Business. “Roughly half of the crowd was made up of students, with the rest consisting of faculty, business representatives and alumni.”
Analytics Day emerged in 2013, when the economics department launched “Annual SAS Day” to bridge the gap between the classroom and employers in the Metro Atlanta area. With support from a gift by UWG alum David Johnson of Cane Bay Partners and sponsorship from SAS, the initiative initially centered on a certificate program designed to give students a competitive edge in data analysis.
Since then, the program has outgrown its original scope, evolving into Analytics Day. The all-day event consists of modern analytical tools, a career expo, poster sessions, student presentations and a case study competition.
This year’s event gave students like senior Melina Hoegger and junior Marissa Moise the opportunity to present their work in front of industry professionals, faculty and peers.
Hoegger, a finance major, came to Analytics Day through her research internship with the Center for Business and Economics Research. She presented her project, “The Impact of Sustainability on Stock Prices,” which examined how the market responds when companies announce pledges with the Science Based Targets initiative.
“Having the support of not only peers, but also faculty, made the experience even better,” Hoegger said. “It was wonderful to see all my work from the last few months wrap up together at one event.”
For Moise, a management information systems major with a concentration in IoT, cybersecurity and networking, the path to Analytics Day came through competition. Moise and her teammate Christiana Odonkor won first place in the ExtraMile Case Study Competition – earning them an invitation to present their findings at the event.
“The biggest moment I experienced was presenting in a room full of around 50 people and getting active feedback on how to better my presentation skills,” Moise said. “I have never done anything like that before.”
Beyond presentations, the day included a career expo that drew business representatives and alumni from across the region. Students participated in mock interviews, networked with industry professionals and engaged with company representatives tied to their research.
Hoegger noted that the career expo gave her the chance to speak directly with representatives from ExtraMile – the company whose data her case study team had been analyzing. “Being able to speak to ExtraMile was an insightful opportunity to hear about how our work related to what the company is doing today,” she said.
Patron credited the career expo as a major driver of this year’s record attendance stating, “I believe the introduction of the career expo made all the difference this year, drawing in a much larger and more diverse group than we anticipated.”
The professional development value of Analytics Day has translated into tangible career outcomes with students landing interviews and positions at organizations including Georgia Power, City of Hope and the Georgia Department of Public Health.
“I consistently hear from the attendees who are blown away by the caliber of the work, often remarking that they didn’t have that level of professional polish at that age,” Patron said.
Both Hoegger and Moise encouraged students at all levels to attend – whether they are presenting or not.
“It gives students the opportunity to learn more about analytics, mock interviews and network with industry professionals as well as other students,” Moise shared.
Patron sees Analytics Day as a permanent fixture in the UWG calendar. “I see this event remaining a cornerstone for our students,” she said. “These experiences go beyond the classroom, making Analytics Day an event that students will continue to find both personally and professionally rewarding.”
