UCM Celebrates CIS Program Anniversary with AI Lab Opening

The University of Central Missouri's Computer Information Systems (CIS) program in the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies on Friday, Oct. 21 will celebrate its 52nd anniversary from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new UCM-Aureus Artificial Intelligence Lab, located at the Missouri Innovation Campus in Lee's Summit.

Members of the campus community and the public are invited to attend the event. University President Roger Best will conduct the ribbon cutting at 2 p.m., and there will be remarks by Abhishek Pakhira, chief operating officer at Aureus Tech Systems.

UCM-Aureus Artificial Intelligence Lab is a feature-rich Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab for use by CIS and Big Data students, and in CISA program's Big Data courses. Students will have access to Aureus AI systems and will be able to collaborate Aureus Tech Systems and work on the AI Projects using the Aureus lab.

Aureus Tech Systems is an accelerated intelligent edge and cloud-based digital transformation company and a Microsoft Co-sell Partner in the top 1 percent of the Microsoft Ecosystem. In his CEO role with the company since 2016, Pakhira has served as a customer-focused problem solver using his critical thinking skills to develop and execute strategies to help clients' mobility and cloud transformation in ways that provide a long-term impact on people's lives.

His commitment to the company, which has included making continuous investments in research and development, has led to a 600 percent revenue growth and a 300 percent staff growth across all Aureus offices.

Pakhira's career includes holding several global leadership positions in technology and operations at Fortune 500 companies in addition to currently having a seat on the Forbes Technology Council.

He has led Auerus Tech Systems to reach a high ranking in Inc. Magazine's Nation's Fastest Growing Companies twice in 2017 and 2018.

Individuals who want to know more about this event should contact Dr. Prasad Rudramuniyaiah, chair and associate professor in the Department of Accountancy, Big Data Analytics, and Computer Information Systems, at rudramuniyaiah@ucmo.edu.

In the photo: Abhishek Pakhira, chief operating officer at Aureus Tech Systems, will speak during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new UCM-Aureus Artificial Intelligence Lab, located at the Missouri Innovation Campus in Lee’s Summit.