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Friday, October 26th

1 – 4 pm

Technology and Human Services Conference Commemorating the Allegheny County Department of Human Services 10th Anniversary, Hamburg Hall 1000

Information technology is having a major impact on how local governments function. One of the leaders in this area is the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, which has pioneered the use of data warehouses, geographic information systems, and other technologies to integrate internal and external data from hundreds of organizations into a system for policy analysis and management. The purpose of this session is to review DHS’s accomplishments with information technology and to then take a look at some promising future trends. The first presentation will be for a half hour, then each additional talk will be a half hour in length with an additional 15 minutes for discussants and Q&A.

Moderator, Wilpen Gorr, PhD 1973, Professor of Public Policy and Information Systems, Heinz School

  • Information Technology and the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, John Pierce Deputy Director, Office of Information Management Allegheny County Department of Human Services and Erin Dalton, MS3 2003, Analyst, Allegheny County Department of Human Services DHS has been a pioneer in the use of information technology for policy making, planning, and management in county governments. This talk reviews DHS’s data warehouse initiative and several examples of its successes and limitations.
  • Policy Systems, Stephen F. Roehrig, Teaching Professor, Heinz School while we have had management information systems for over 25 years, policy analysis largely is still conducted in ad hoc projects without the benefit of policy-oriented information systems. This talk reviews the policy analysis and policy making life cycle and identifies opportunities to build ongoing and maintained systems for the purpose of improving policy making.
  • Modeling Flows in Complex Systems, Alfred Blumstein, Erik S. Jonsson University Professor of Urban Systems and Operations Research and Former Dean, Heinz School Criminal justice, health care, and human services are examples of complex systems that involve multiple organizations that interact in complex ways to address some of society’s most important problems, usually without a single “system manager”. Nevertheless, it is important to be able to account for impact of a policy change in one part on the other related parts. This talk outlines approaches to building, calibrating, and maintaining models for use in policy making, management, and evaluation of such changes. They become necessary for assessing trade-offs that weigh the benefits in one part of the system against the harms felt in other parts and for assessing the benefits from collaborative policies.
  • Data Confidentiality and Privacy, George T. Duncan, Professor of Statistics, Heinz School in several surveys, data confidentiality and privacy have been primary concerns of the public in regard to government use of computer technology. This talk reviews the state-of-art in approaches to collecting and using confidential data, as well as emerging issues.
1 – 2 pm

Becoming a Hot Commodity: Maximizing Your Heinz Degree

Moderator: Jackie Speedy, Associate Director of Career Services, Heinz School and Ron Delfine, Director of Career Services, Information Systems Management Programs

Panelists:

  • Sam Franklin, MSPPM 2007, Project Manager, Office of High School Reform, Pittsburgh Public Schools
  • Evan Frazier, MPM 1996, Executive Director, Hill House Economic Development Corporation
  • Pamelijit Kalra, MISM 2005, Technology Integration, Deloitte Consulting
  • Visha Mundhra, MISM 2006, Associate Consultant, National Services Group, TIBCO Software
  • Sarah Taillon, MISM 2007, Assistant Manager of Business Development, College Prowler
  • Cal Waits, MSISPM 2005, Technical Staff, SEI Practices - Development and Training
  • Nate Wildfire, MS3 2007, Sustainable Policy Coordinator, East Liberty Development Inc
  • Nicole Wilson, MS 2007, Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

2 – 3 pm

Networking: You, Me, and Why We Should Talk

Moderator: Martin Black, Director of Career Services, Heinz School

Panelists:

  • Murray Dickman, BS (IM) 1968, MSPPM 1972, Consultant and semi-retired (Rome, Italy and Pittsburgh)
  • Kathryn McCormick, MAM 2007, Data Analyst, Elliott Marketing Group, Inc.
  • Stephen McGarry, Senior HR Specialist, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
3:30 – 5:30 pm

Heinz School Review/Internship Opportunity Fund Reception with Students, Faculty and Alumni

4:00 – 6:00 pm

Class Dinners

6 – 8 p.m.

Alumni Awards Ceremony (Rangos Ballroom, UC)

Join in this celebration as the Alumni Association honors alumni, students and faculty for their commitment and service to the University and professional accomplishments.

Prodipto Ghosh, MSPPM 1989 and Ph.D. 1991, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India will be honored in the Achievement category.

Heinz School Alumni Reunion Registration

To register for Heinz School Alumni Reunion Events, visit the Carnegie Mellon Homecoming Registration page Look for the "Heinz Event" designation on the Carnegie Mellon Homecoming Registration page.

To register for the following Saturday events, please call 1-866-401-9529:

Travel and hotel discounts are also available through Carnegie Mellon Homecoming. Hotel discounts are available for a limited time; you are encouraged to make your reservations early.