About | Dr. Ravi Bapna

Dr. Ravi Bapna

Curtis L. Carlson Chair Professor inBusiness Analytics & Information Systems

Ravi Bapna, an Indian-born American data scientist and digital transformation expert, is a distinguished business academic, executive educator, and speaker. He holds the Curtis L. Carlson Chair in Business Analytics and Information Systems at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, where he also serves as Associate Dean for Executive Education and Academic Director of the Carlson Analytics Lab and the Analytics for Good Institute. Bapna’s research spans a wide range of areas, including social media, peer influence, monetization and design of freemium communities, big-data analytics, online dating and matching, the economics of information systems, human capital in the IT services industry, online auctions, e-market design, grid computing, and IT organization design. His work delves into the digital transformation of business and society, viewing it as a vast global laboratory for innovation. He is an active member of several professional societies, including the Information Systems Society, where he served as president from 2013 to 2015. Additionally, Bapna is a Senior Editor for Information Systems Research.

Degrees Awarded

University of Calcutta

Bachelor of Commerce (B. Comm.) - 1989
Area: Commerce

University of Mangalore

Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech.) - 1993
Area: Computer Engineering

University of Connecticut

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) -1999
Area: Information Systems

Honors & Awards

Association of Information Systems Fellow Award (2023)
INFORMS ISS President’s Service Award (2023)
Haim Mendelson Teaching Innovation Award (INFORMS Information Systems Society, 2022)
AIS Best Paper Award Winner (2021)
MidAmerica Business Deans (MABDA) Pedagogical Innovation Award (2021)
The Inaugural Practical Impacts Award (INFORMS Information Systems Society, 2020)
Management Science Best IS Paper Award Winner (2018)
Distinguished Academic Fellow (INFORMS Information Systems Society, 2018)
Carlson School of Management Schoolwide Long-Term Service Award (2015)
Carlson School of Management Dean’s Exceptional Engagement Award (2014)
President, INFORMS Information Systems Society (Elected Spring 2013)
Carlson School of Management Annual Faculty Service Award (2012)
Carlson School of Management Annual Faculty Service Award (2011)
Carlson School of Management Annual Faculty Research Award (2009)
Carlson School of Management Board of Overseers Professorship (Awarded July 2010)
Association of Information Systems (AIS) Best Publication of 2008 Award (2008)
Vice President, INFORMS Information Systems Society (Elected Spring 2010)
UConn School of Business Ackerman Scholar (August 2004 – July 2006)
UConn School of Business Best Paper Runner-Up (2006)
Treibeck Electronic Commerce Institute (TECI) Fellow (UConn School of Business, Summer 2004, 2005)
Philip McDonald Curriculum Innovation Award (College of Business Administration, Northeastern University, 2000)

Work Experience

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Associate Dean, Executive Education
May 2017 – June 2022

Curtis L. Carlson Chair in Business Analytics and Information Systems
May 2015 – Present

Academic Director, Analytics for Good Institute
January 2020 – Present

Academic Director, Carlson Analytics Lab
August 2015 – Present

Program Director, MS in Business Analytics Program
August 2015 – July 2017

Department Chair, Information and Decision Science
September 2014 – August 2015

Board of Overseers Professor
July 2010 – April 2015

Tenured Associate Professor
June 2008 – June 2010

Co-director, SOBACO
July 2012 – June 2016

Chief Data Scientist, Mississippi River Capital
April 2017 – March 2018

2011-2014

Degree
University Name

Briefly describe your degree and any other highlights about your studies you want to share. Be sure to include relevant skills you gained, accomplishments you achieved or milestones you reached during your education.

Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India

Executive Director, Srini Raju Centre for IT and the Networked Economy
September 2006 – July 2013

Tenured Associate Professor of Information Systems
September 2006 – May 2008

University of Connecticut

Tenured Associate Professor and Ackerman Scholar
August 2004 – August 2006

Tenure-track Assistant Professor
August 2001 – July 2004

Northeastern University

Tenure-track Assistant Professor
August 2000 – July 2001

University of Texas at Dallas

Tenure-track Assistant Professor
August 1999 – July 2000

Professional Memberships

Association of Information Systems
INFORMS
Information Systems Society

Editorships & Journal Reviewer Experience

Editor

Senior Editor
Information Systems Research
January 2018 – Present
Senior Editor
MIS Quarterly
January 2011 – December 2016
Special Issue Co-Editor
MIS Quarterly
Special Issue: Transformational Issues of Big Data and Analytics in Networked Business
Associate Editor
MIS Quarterly
January 2006 – December 2010
Associate Editor
Information Systems Research
January 2010 – Present
Associate Editor
Management Science
January 2007 – December 2008

Reviewer

Management Science
Journal of Marketing
Statistical Science
Information Systems Research
MIS Quarterly
Decision Sciences
Information Systems Frontiers
Communications of the ACM
International Journal of Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance, and Management
European Journal of Operations Research
Decision Support Systems
Information Technology and Management
Naval Research Logistics

Review Boards

Production and Operations Management
January 2006 – December 2008

Research Grants

External Sources

Target Foundation for Analytics for Good Institute - $75,000
November 2020
NET Institute - $3,000
July 2014

University Sources

Center for Transportation Studies - $25,000
April 1, 2018 – May 31, 2019
SOBACO Grant - $49,000
Spring 2013
Carlson School Dean’s Small Faculty Grant - $5,000
September 2013
Carlson School Dean’s Small Faculty Grant - $10,000
September 2009

Tekne Award Winner for Technology Advocacy

Minnesota Technology Association is honored to recognize Dr. Ravi Bapna, a visionary leader in analytics, AI, and digital transformation.

Celebrating Technology Advocacy: MnTech Tekne Award Winner Dr Ravi Bapna!

Minnesota Technology Association is honored to recognize Dr. Ravi Bapna, a visionary leader in analytics, AI, and digital transformation. As the Curtis L. Carlson Chair in Business Analytics and Information Systems at the UMN Carlson School of Management, Dr. Bapna has dedicated his career to advancing the responsible and impactful use of technology. Through his leadership as Academic Director of the Analytics for Good Institute and the Carlson Analytics Lab at University of Minnesota, he has pioneered industry-academia partnerships that bring cutting-edge AI and machine learning applications to life. His work has shaped the MS-Business Analytics program, ranked among the best in the nation, and has been featured in outlets like Sloan Management Review and the The Minnesota Star Tribune. An award-winning scholar with multiple INFORMS ISS and best paper honors, Dr. Bapna’s influence extends globally—from executive education at NYU Stern to leadership roles at the Indian School of Business. His recent book, “Thrive: Maximizing Well-Being in the Age of AI,” explores how AI can positively transform health, work, education, and everyday life. Thank you to Ed Foppe and Gautam Ray for nominating this outstanding award winner. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bapna for his extraordinary contributions to technology advocacy and innovation! Help us take the celebration from online to in-person as we raise a glass for Ravi and his fellow Tekne winners at U.S. Bank Stadium next Thrusday during the tech party of the year!