Harold Wirth Endowed Chair in Business Analytics

Loyola University New Orleans invites applications for the Harold

E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Chair in Business Analytics. This is a prestigious, full-time endowed faculty position housed in the Joseph

A. Butt, S.J., College of Business, and is the Faculty Director of the Peter Callais Business Analytics Institute. The position is open rank and commensurate with experience.

Originally established in 1999 through a generous bequest by Harold

E. Wirth and Mary Wirth and matched by the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Wirth Chair was designed to promote excellence in economics education and scholarship. In response to evolving industry and academic demands, the Chair has been re-envisioned to reflect the rising importance of applied quantitative skills, data analytics, and econometric modeling in business decision-making and public policy.

The Wirth Chair in Business Analytics will play a key leadership role in the College’s mission to educate students in a rapidly evolving, data-driven global economy. This position aims to elevate Loyola’s prominence in quantitative business education, foster impactful interdisciplinary research, and enhance our engagement with external stakeholders in industry, government, and the broader community.

The individual appointed to the Wirth Chair will be expected to provide leadership in teaching, research and service, contributing to the academic strength of the College of Business. The Chair will:

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in business analytics and related areas, ensuring students develop critical, in-demand skills for today’s data-driven business environments;
• Conduct innovative research in business analytics and related areas, with a focus on addressing real-world business challenges and influencing industry practices;
• Maintain qualification as Scholarly Academic faculty, as defined in the CoB Bylaws;
• Support and mentor faculty research initiatives, particularly those that involve quantitative analysis and data-driven methodologies, strengthening the research output of the College;
• Collaborate with faculty in entrepreneurship, analytics, and artificial intelligence programs to integrate data insights into the development of new strategies and models;
• Serve as the campus authority on interdisciplinary exchange and partnerships (for example, with the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Music and Media) related to research and/or pedagogical opportunities in data analysis, quantitative strategies, and related educational and policy impacts;
• Organize seminars, guest lectures, and events to bring prominent industry professionals, thought leaders, and scholars to campus, enhancing the intellectual life of the university and creating valuable networking opportunities for students;
• Play a key and active role in recruiting students to the College of Business, with a focus on those interested in analytics, quantitative research, and applied economics;
• Lead efforts to secure external funding through grants and partnerships while cultivating relationships with alumni and donors to support research, student scholarships, and the long-term growth of applied quantitative curricula through the College, which may include donor funding for new and dedicated Centers should opportunity(ies) arise.
• As appropriate, work closely with business leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders to advance data-driven decision-making and economic development in Louisiana and beyond.

The Wirth Chair will be instrumental in preparing students for the challenges of a rapidly evolving workforce by providing them with a strong foundation in business analytics. Given the rising importance of data analytics in shaping business and public policy, the Chair will collaborate with colleagues across the university to foster interdisciplinary initiatives that apply quantitative analysis to significant business, economic, and societal issues, bridging the discipline of applied quantitative economics and the Jesuit mission of the University.

The Chair’s leadership will stimulate research, inspire innovative programs, and create a more interconnected…