Chicago MSFM U Chicago looking for New Director

[Joy Pathak]

Executive Director Prof Program in Financial Math - IL, Campus - Hyde Park | America's Job Exchange

They are changing the structure and looking for a new program director.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

We have been following this story. Report of Dr. Nagaard's dismissal first surfaced about two weeks ago. Our research shows the search for his replacement started a few months ago so this has caught many students and alumni of the program by surprise.

We'll have a story coming out soon when we receive official statement from U Chicago.

 

[Joy Pathak]

We have been following this story. Report of Dr. Nagaard's dismissal first surfaced about two weeks ago. Our research shows the search for his replacement started a few months ago so this has caught many students and alumni of the program by surprise.

We'll have a story coming out soon when we receive official statement from U Chicago.

Looks like students opinions can really make a difference.

 

[bigbadwolf]

We have been following this story. Report of Dr. Nagaard's dismissal first surfaced about two weeks ago.

Hardly surprising. Doesn't seem to have been much of a program.

 

[alain]

this has caught many students and alumni of the program by surprise.

Looks like students opinions can really make a difference.

If it caught students and alumni by surprise, how is it possible that the students' opinions can make a difference?

 

[Joy Pathak]

If it caught students and alumni by surprise, how is it possible that the students' opinions can make a difference?

Many people have been giving bad reviews about the director and the program. I am sure they were "surprised" in the sense that there is actually significant changes being made possibly based on their reviews of the program. I am talking about general views and not specifically QN reviews..

I do not know every graduate. I do not know where Andy got that statement from about students and alumni being surprised, but I am just speaking in general, many students/alumni have been talking about wanting changes/improvements in the program in particular areas and seems like the administration are listening to them. I replied in a general sense to Andy's statement, rather than specifically to anything he had written.

 

[alain]

Oh, I got it. Thanks for the information.

 

[Joy Pathak]

We have been following this story. Report of Dr. Nagaard's dismissal first surfaced about two weeks ago. Our research shows the search for his replacement started a few months ago so this has caught many students and alumni of the program by surprise.

We'll have a story coming out soon when we receive official statement from U Chicago.

Actually after looking through this a bit more .... it seems like the new position will report TO Dr. Nygaard?

Reporting to the Program Director and the Chairman of the Department of Mathematics, the Executive Director

So...There will be a program director....AND an Executive Director? What will be the difference?

This is what the executive director will be doing..

Working with program colleagues and the Advisory Board, he or she will guide the strategic direction of the program, assess and develop curriculum, and will participate in admissions and program marketing, student career development, and fundraising.

How would that be different than the Program Director?

Confusing...

 

[Andy Nguyen]

A story is coming up
Seeking new leadership, Chicago MSFM fired founding director | Quant Network

 

[bigbadwolf]

A story is coming up
Seeking new leadership, Chicago MSFM fired founding director | Quant Network

From the piece:

These students normally come from China, India and other Asian countries where MFE education often involves a huge family saving or a loan where only a potential six figures salary job afterward can justify. For many of them, a dedicated placement service with a proven track record is among the most important factors when deciding a program to study.

Yep, that is correct. For the foreign students, this is not chump change. A successful MFE program has to have a strong placement service, strong industry contacts, and courses carefully tailored to what reluctant employers are willing to hire for.

“Niels Nygaard has made significant contributions as director of the Master of Science Program in Financial Mathematics since its founding in 1996. Although he is no longer serving as director, he remains a valued and important member of the mathematics faculty.”

Typical bureaucratic-speak. Decoded: "We removed him for incompetence. And indeed, we would have chucked him out altogether. But since he is a tenured member of the faculty, we cannot easily do that."

 

[Andy Nguyen]

The last part of the article has been published
Seeking changes, Chicago MSFM fired founding director | Quant Network

 

[Andy Nguyen]

We have plenty of interesting comments from students of the program in the comment section of the article.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

We just received a statement from Dean Robert Fefferman through the university's news director in respond to our story.

We will have an update with his statement shortly.

---------- Post added at 06:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------

Dean Fefferman has posted a comment on the updated article
Seeking changes, Chicago MSFM fired founding director | Quant Network

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Someone just posted this comment
Seeking changes, Chicago MSFM fired founding director | Quant Network

 

[Joy Pathak]

Someone just posted this comment
Seeking changes, Chicago MSFM fired founding director | Quant Network

That really sucks. Almost scary when you see such comments from students at a school like U Chicago.

 

[bigbadwolf]

Someone just posted this comment
Seeking changes, Chicago MSFM fired founding director | Quant Network

It's good that people can post these perspectives on Quantnet.