ISM Faculty | Stanton University

Information Systems Management

Mohammad Almuhana - Chairperson to the Information Systems Management Program

Dr. Mohammad Almuhana is a skilled professional with expertise in the fields of data analytics, financial data, actuarial analysis, and business intelligence. Currently, Dr. Almuhana is pursuing his doctoral degree with a focus on analytics and business intelligence, and is in the process of completing his quantitative dissertation. His research interests revolve around the impact of climate change and wildfires on the economy of California.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Almuhana is an experienced business analyst with six years of experience. His expertise lies in utilizing predictive analysis tools and statistical insurance models to manage financial uncertainty and analyze financial and insurance data to provide valuable insights related to the environment. Dr. Almuhana is expected to earn a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Business Intelligence & Data Analytics from Westcliff University in 2024. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern State University (2019) and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Middle East University (MEU) (2014).

Aliah Alshrif, Ph.D

Email: a.alshrif@stanton.edu

Professor Aliah Algassmi has all her education: a Ph.D., two master’s Degrees, and a bachelor’s in the field of information systems and technology. She has extensive knowledge and experience in various aspects of technology and its application in different domains. Prof. Algassmi’s background includes academic research, teaching, and industry experience such as IT audit, software development, and data analysis.

As a researcher, she has contributed to the academic community through publications, presenting her findings at conferences, and collaborating with other experts in the field. Prof. Algassmi’s research interests have revolved around emerging technologies, data analytics, and the impact of technology on businesses and society.

Anh-Thu Phan-Ho, Ph.D

Email: a.thuphanho@stanton.edu

Dr. Anh-Thu Phan-Ho received the M.Sc. degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Orleans, France in 2011 and the Ph.D. degree in Signal and Image Processing from the University of Technology and Sciences of Lille, France in 2015.

Since 2015, she has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at several Institutions and Universities in France such as GIPSA Lab,Grenoble, L3i Lab, LM2S and CRIStAL Lab of the University of Lille. Her research interests include statistical image processing, statistical detection theory and steganalysis and deep learning, with a main application to digital image forensics.

From 2022, she was a senior researcher at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) department of Multitel, a Research & Innovation Centre in Belgium. She was leading a technical work package of TRAIL (TRusted AI Labs) about weakly supervised machine learning – Towards a more general AI. She was also managing and training interns in A.I. Her experiences also include teaching students in Mathematics major at universities and engineering schools for more than ten years.

Cigdem Polat Dautov, MSc

Email: c.dautov@stanton.edu

Cigdem Polat Dautov (PhD candidate), instructor with a dynamic background that spans across multiple disciplines, including Computer Engineering (BSc), Electrical and Electronic Engineering (MSc), and a focused PhD study in Signal Processing and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms. Cigdem Polat Dautov brings a rich tapestry of academic knowledge combined with practical experience to her teaching and research at Stanton University.

Cigdem’s academic journey is complemented by over five years of experience in software engineering and another five in the cutting-edge realms of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Her passion for pushing the boundaries of technology to solve real-world problems is evident in her entrepreneurial ventures. As a co-founder of an innovative robotics and AI company, Cigdem is at the forefront of designing and deploying advanced robotic solutions. One of the flagship projects under her technical leadership is a state-of-the-art crawling inspection robot. This project not only showcases her expertise in AI and robotics but also her commitment to contributing to sustainable energy solutions.

As an educator, Cigdem is dedicated to inspiring and training the next generation of engineers and technologists. She leverages extensive research and industry experience to provide students with a deep understanding of both theoretical concepts and practical applications in engineering, robotics, AI, and beyond. Her teaching philosophy is centered on fostering innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, preparing students to tackle the challenges of the future.

Outside the classroom and lab, Cigdem is actively engaged in the tech startup ecosystem, seeking funding and support for her company’s growth and development. Her entrepreneurial spirit and vision for leveraging technology to make a positive impact on society are at the heart of her professional endeavors.

Join Cigdem’s classes at Stanton University as she continues to explore the intersection of technology, engineering, and entrepreneurship, shaping the future of our digital world.

Gizelle Piran, MBA

Email:g.piran@stanton.edu

Ms. Gizelle Piran has over 10 years of experience in healthcare and IT. She currently works as a Senior Project Manager at Kaiser Permanente for a large-scale program that supports disaster and recovery efforts in the event of a cyber attack. She has managed several large-scale physical and cloud infrastructure projects supporting critical healthcare applications in hospitals and data centers. Miss Piran is also certified with

the gold standard of Project Management known as a PMP certification and a Certified Scrum Master, CSM. She is well versed in both agile and waterfall project management methodologies.

She graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Pepperdine University in 2022 and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Computer Information Systems and Design Sciences from California State University, Fullerton, in 2014.

Ahmad Sweed, MBA

Email:a.sweed@stanton.edu

Mr. Ahmad Sweed received his Master’s in Business Intelligence “MBA” and his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Major Data Science and Embedded Systems, at the Jordan University of Science and Technology.

He began his mathematics and data science career working in manufacturing then transitioned to work with marketing and sales advertisements tracking, dealing with Big Data, and utilizing mathematics and data analytics tools to build robust machine learning algorithms, Big Data Pipelines, and utilizing mathematics to optimize and understand correlation between independent and dependent variables, applying Calculus, Statistics and Algebra to improve the outcomes of the models. His educational background in Computer Science and Business Intelligence has helped to reduce the gap between software engineering, mathematics, and business needs.

Vijay Chidamabram, MS

Email: v.chidambaram@stanton.edu

Mr. Vijay Chidambaram brings over 20 years of project and program management experience in Technology Engineering Management. With a master’s degree in engineering, he excels in Systems Engineering, Product Ownership, Cloud Computing, and Agile Methodologies. Vijay emphasizes innovation, mentorship, and efficient project execution. He has led key initiatives at esteemed organizations like Capital Group Companies, Nissan Motor Corporation, IBM, and Westpac Bank across five continents.

Vijay is a Distinguished Toastmaster, showcasing exceptional communication and leadership skills. He serves on the board of the Community Action Partnership of OC, demonstrating his commitment to community service. A marathon finisher, Vijay embodies perseverance and dedication, traits that contribute to his professional success. He is a devoted husband and father of two accomplished daughters, residing in Irvine and making meaningful contributions both professionally and personally.