As the Â鶹APP celebrates 60 years of expanding opportunity across Maine, we continue sharing the stories of the people who bring that mission to life.

Rocko Graziano first connected with the Â鶹APP as a member of the UMA Board of Visitors. When the opportunity arose to help develop the university’s Data Science program, he stepped in and later joined the faculty as a lecturer in Data Science and Computer Information Systems. Today, he works closely with students who are building new futures through technology, helping them discover their enthusiasm for computing and the confidence to pursue new opportunities in the field.

We asked Rocko to share more about his UMA story and the moments that make teaching especially rewarding.

What department are you in and what is your role?

I am a Lecturer in the Data Science and Computer Information Systems programs.

What first drew you to teach at UMA, and why have you chosen to make this your professional home?

I was a member of the UMA Board of Visitors in the late 2010s. Provost Szakas invited me to help create the Data Science degree program, and once it was approved he encouraged me to join the Faculty.

I joined UMA for two reasons. The first was location – I have lived in Central Maine my entire adult life. Equally important was UMAs mission: I find working with non-traditional, back-to-school lifelong learners very rewarding.

What inspires you most in the classroom or in your interactions with students? (Is there a specific “lightbulb moment” you’ve witnessed recently?)

So many UMA students balance school with work and family responsibilities. The commitment to making a better life for themselves and their families is inspirational.

What is the most rewarding part of witnessing a student’s evolution while they are in your program?

In my five years I have had a few students change their majors to CIS as a result of taking one of my classes. Igniting their enthusiasm for computing, showing them that they have the ability to do the work, preparing the next generation of computing professionals for Maine is why I am here.

UMA is known for flexibility. How have you seen our different learning modalities (online, hybrid, in-person) create opportunities for students who might not otherwise be able to pursue a degree?

I have a special appreciation for the students in the Prison Education Program. Each semester a handful of them join one of my classes, and their dedication to obtaining an education despite the tremendous challenges they face is one of the more inspirational parts of working at UMA.

What is one piece of advice you consistently give to students entering your field to help them succeed?

Stay a lifelong learner. There will always be new technology which promises to solve all the problems of the business world. Rely on the critical thinking and problem solving skills you develop at UMA to adapt to whatever the marketplace brings.

As UMA celebrates 60 years of expanding opportunity, stories like Rocko Graziano’s reflect the dedication and determination that continue to shape the university’s future.

“AI has the morality of a hammer,” an opinion piece by UMA Lecturer of Data Science and Machine Learning Rocko Graziano, was recently published in the . It explores the question is AI is capable of morality, or is it simply a reflection of the people who create and use it? Graziano challenges the idea that artificial intelligence can—or should—hold ethical responsibility, arguing that the real issue lies in human hands. As AI continues to shape everything from hiring practices to newsfeeds, its biases mirror our own. to explore why the future of AI isn’t about making machines moral—it’s about making better choices ourselves.

The lesson tackles the critical topic of privacy by exploring identification concepts within databases and association rules within data mining and machine learning. In both contexts, an ethical issue is neglected: the securing of one’s right to privacy. The exercise exploits the notion of conditional functional dependency and the ability in an open data environment of connecting resources that were never meant to be connected. It also highlights the risk of proxy discrimination, where algorithms are trained using datasets which reflect and perpetuate past societal bias.

Their paper will be presented at the EngageCSEdu Technical Symposium in March.

The Â鶹APP, a leader in distance learning for over 30 years, announces its launch of the first public graduate certificate program in Data Visualization & Representation (DVR) in Maine. In line with Â鶹APP mission to provide high-quality distance education and innovative professional programs, students from all over the state can pursue a graduate certificate in DVR, online, gaining in-demand skills in this rapidly growing industry.

While Data Visualization includes charts and graphs, it can also be health infographic posters, maps of snowfall averages, or a comparison of the top 20 most visited tropical vacation sites. “You might be more interested in business,” says Peter Precourt, Professor of Art and Coordinator of the DVR Graduate Certificate Program. “You might be interested in making infographics. You might need to share information with stakeholders of your community group or organization.” There is something in this program for almost everyone and the possibilities are nearly endless with, as stated in US News and World Report, an estimated 149 zettabytes (each zettabyte a trillion gigabytes) of data being created, captured, copied or consumed across the globe by 2024. In this 18 credit, six course program, students take two graduate courses in data science, another two in ethical data research methods, and two in art critique and storytelling. But, according to Precourt, “what really sets this program apart is the open sharing of work in a virtual studio setting. We share our work in real time and give feedback to each other which doesn’t just help you get better, but it helps prepare you to be in a public presentation, have your work be questioned, and then respond in a meaningful and thoughtful way.”

Data Visualization and Representation is a rapidly growing industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of Data Science, which includes Data Visualization Development, is projected to grow 35% from 2022-2032, with over 17,000 jobs to be added annually, and earnings ranging from about $58,000 to over $170,000 per year.

For more information about the Graduate Certificate in Data Visualization and Representation contact Peter Precourt, program coordinator, at peter.precourt@maine.edu.

The UMA 2022-2023 Scholarship application is open now with a deadline of March 31, 2022.

Applicants will be evaluated on academic achievement, leadership, and community and/or campus service.

Steps to Apply

1. Submit the online form available on the Scholarships webpage.
2. Attach resume and cover letter containing a personal statement as to why the applicant feels they should be considered for a scholarship.

Details

• Scholarships based on financial eligibility require the student to submit their by UMA’s preferred filing deadline of March 1, 2022.
• All Scholarships require a minimum academic cumulative grade point average of 2.0.
• Scholarship awardees will be notified no later than May 1, 2022.
• Students graduating in Summer 2022 or Fall 2022 are NOT eligible for these scholarships.

Questions?

Contact UMA Student Financial Services at umafa@maine.edu.