Arthur O’Connor

Academic Director, MS in Data Science and BS in Information Systems

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Contact

Phone: (646) 344-7267

Areas of Expertise
  • Behavioral Finance

Dr. Arthur J. O’Connor is the academic director of the MS in data science and BS in information systems degree programs at the CUNY School of Professional Studies. He has over 20 years of undergraduate and graduate-level teaching experience and over 20 years of experience as a senior corporate executive and IT management consultant. His background includes serving as a senior corporate officer of two Fortune 500 corporations (Loral and Continental) and, more recently, working in risk analytics and systems management roles at Reuters and Citigroup. A graduate of the Newhouse School of Journalism at Syracuse University, he earned his MBA in finance from Fordham University and his Doctorate of Professional Studies from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University.

O’Connor became a certified sustainable value professional in 2016 and earned his hogan assessment certification in 2020. He has published research studies in the areas of behavioral finance, organizational practices, and political polarization, and presented his work at annual meetings of the Academy of Behavioral Finance & Economics. He has also authored many articles on technology, management, and social trends. Most recently, he co-authored a study, “President Trump’s Tweets and Investor Attention: How the President’s Criticisms of Firms Boosts Their Market Returns,” which was presented at the American Accounting Association annual meeting in 2020.

Courses

DATA 698 - Senior Research Project

Academic Programs

Undergraduate Program

Information Systems

Graduate Program

Data Science

Publications

Recent News

The image from Dr. O'Connor's article in Homeland Security Today

PERSPECTIVE: DeepSeek May Be the Least of Our Concerns

February 14, 2025

Homeland Security Today

Dr. Arthur O'Connor, academic director of the CUNY SPS MS in data science and BS in information systems degree programs, wrote an article for Homeland Security Today. His essay, "PERSPECTIVE: DeepSeek May Be the Least of Our Concerns," examines the tradeoffs that people make when cognitive and critical thinking tasks are outsourced to AI.
Image of robotic arm holding a car that was used to illustrate Dr. Arthur O'Connor's article

An AI Agent Could Help You Buy Your Next Car

February 14, 2025

Computer World

CUNY SPS Academic Director Dr. Arthur J. O'Connor, who oversees the School's MS in Data Science and BS in Information Systems programs, is quoted in the Computer World article "An AI Agent Could Help You Buy Your Next Car." Dr. O'Connor explains how the emerging technology called "emotion recognition" (ER) allows chatbots to recognize and respond to customer's emotions. He also points out that this advancement can facilitate improved customer satisfaction and loyalty by offering more empathetic responses from chatbots.
CUNY SPS Professor Dr. O'Connor is quoted in CEO Magazine, the photo is a stock photo of a desktop

Bridging the Gap: Generative AI and Organizational Readiness

January 30, 2025

CEO-Magazine

CUNY SPS Academic Director Dr. Arthur O’Connor, who heads the MS in Data Science and BS in Information Systems degree programs, discussed the potential risks and rewards to businesses utilizing Generative AI with CEO-Magazine in the article "Bridging the Gap: Generative AI and Organizational Readiness." Drawing on his vast experience in corporate IT management, Dr. O'Connor warns that AI programs such as ChatGPT cannot replace critical thinking. He also points out AI's tremendous efficiencies and cost-saving opportunities.

Additional Areas of Expertise