AOM Member and Northwestern Engineering’s Noshir Contractor has been named executive director of the Web Science Trust (WST).
He is the Jane S. & William J. White Professor of Behavioral Sciences in the McCormick School of Engineering, the Northwestern School of Communication, and the Kellogg School of Management, and director of the Science of Networks in Communities (SONIC) Research Group. He is a leading researcher of network science, computational social science, and web science, explicitly examining how social and knowledge networks form in business, scientific communities, healthcare, and space travel.
"As someone who has dedicated their career to studying the Web and its profound impact on our world, I am honored and excited to take on the role of executive director of the Web Science Trust,” Contractor said. “Over the past 15 years, we have witnessed how the Web has served as the foundation for the meteoric rise of social media, transforming the way we connect, communicate, and share information on a global scale. We are deeply indebted to Wendy Hall for her visionary leadership of the Web Science Trust as we engaged with these momentous developments. We now have an extraordinary opportunity to shape a future where the Web and AI can synergistically benefit an equitable and inclusive humanity.”
AOM Member and Clayton State University Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives for the College of Business Leon Prieto has been appointed to serve as a professional speaker and expert for the United States Department of State’s U.S. Speaker Program.
This program recruits dynamic experts to engage international audiences on topics of strategic importance to the United States, such as innovation and entrepreneurship, workforce development, and social and corporate sustainability.
Leon said, “I am excited about this opportunity to give back to this nation as an expert and professional practitioner,” he said. “I am passionate about the power of social innovation and entrepreneurship to make a positive impact in the lives of people and communities, and it will be an absolute pleasure to spread this message across the globe.”