Teach students to create compelling, employer-ready data stories with visualization skills that combine clarity, context, and communication.
Data doesn’t drive decisions—people who can visualize and communicate it do. Listen as authors, Dr. Vern Richardson, Distinguished Professor at the University of Arkansas, and Ron Guymon, Senior Lecturer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, explore how educators can equip students with the data storytelling skills employers are demanding. This thought leadership session dives into ethical, platform-agnostic approaches to teaching data visualization that translates to the workplace. You’ll also get a first look at Data Visualization—a bold new title built to turn raw data into real-world impact using Excel, Power BI, and Tableau. If you're ready to teach data that speaks—and gets heard—this is your moment.
Vernon J. Richardson is a distinguished professor of accounting and the G. William Glezen chair in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas and a visiting professor at Baruch College. He received his BS, Master’s of Accountancy, and MBA from Brigham Young University and a PhD in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has taught at top universities across the U.S. and internationally, including institutions in China, Denmark, Australia, and Ghana, bringing global insight to his instruction. Dr. Vern Richardson is a distinguished accounting scholar and textbook author who has served in key editorial roles and published extensively in top academic journals. He specializes in data analytics and information systems, co-authoring widely adopted textbooks that bridge theory and practice in accounting and business analytics.
Ronald N. Guymon is a Senior Lecturer in the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and co-author of Data Visualization. He received his BS and Master of Accountancy from Brigham Young University and his PhD in accounting from the University of Iowa. In addition to his current role at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he has also shared his expertise with students at Georgia State University, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Iowa. He has also helped dozens of clients find insights with their own data while working outside of academia as a Chief Data Scientist at Numetric and as the Chief Data Officer at Gigg. Dr. Guymon is a recognized expert in business analytics education, having developed numerous courses—including popular MOOCs—and published research in leading accounting journals. He also applies analytics in everyday life and has received honors such as the Dean’s Impact Award and the Gies Faculty Innovation Scholar designation.