Musa Jafar

Associate Professor, Accounting, CIS & Law

I am an Associate Professor of Business Analytics & CIS. I like to play with data, I am a Data Engineer. I Joined Manhattan College in August 2014. I spent 10 years before that @West Texas A&M University. I am a Graduate of the University of Arizona, I have my Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from the U of Arizona, (1) a Masters degree in Management Information Systems from the UofA, (2) a Masters degree in Systems Engineering from the UofA and (3) a Masters Degree in Mathematics from the American University of Beirut (when Malcolm Kerr was the President of the University) and a Bachelor of Mathematics from the Haigazian College in Beirut Lebanon. I am from a small town in the mountains of Southern Lebanon.

Education

  • PHD, University of Arizona
  • MS, The American Univ. of Beirut
  • MS, University of Arizona

Courses Taught

  • Data Mining Methods and Data Analytics (SQL Server Analysis Services and R, twitteR API) Since 2009
  • Data Visualization in a web-GL, Tableau and PowerBI environments
  • Database Management Systems (Oracle, MySQL, SQL Server)
  • OpenSource Web Development (JavaScript, AJAX, Apache, PHP, MySQL)
  • Business Statistics
  • Applied Regression Analysis
  • Object-Oriented Analysis & Design with UML(IBM Rational Architect)
  • Research

    I am a Data Engineer with a lot of Statistics, Mathematics and Software Engineering Knowledge.I am interested in building sets of Computing Tools for the "Non-algorithmic non-shell Programmer" that allow digital humanities researchers to perform Visual Data Analytics on corpora of data to discover patterns and see what they have not-seen before in the bodies of text and their Meta-Data.

  • Publications and Scholarly Activities
    Publications
    1. Jafar, M. & Waldman, M. (2017).  An Interactive Toolbox for Twitter Content Analytics.   Journal of Information Systems Applied Research (JISAR), 10 (1), 15-28.
    2. Jafar, M., Babb, J., & Abdullat, A. (2017).  Emergence of Data Analytics in the Information Systems Curriculum.   Information Systems Education Journal (ISEDJ).
    3. Shah, G., Rovenpor, J. L., & Jafar, M. (2016).  A Brand Under Attack: The Boycott of Stoli Vodka and the Power of Social Media.   Case Research Journal, 36 (2), 1-20.
    4. Jafar, M., Bab, J. S. & Dana, K. Decision-Making via Visual Analysis using the Natural Language Toolkit and R. AppliedJournal of Information Systems Applied Research 7 (1), 33-46 (2014). http://www.jisar.org/2014-7/N1/JISARv7n1p33.html  
    5. Bab, J. S. & Dana, K., Keith, M. & Jafar M. J. Evolving Mobile Architectures: A Case Study in the Development of a Location Privacy Application. Information Systems.  Applied Journal of Information Systems Applied Research (2013).
    6. Jafar, M.  & Babb J. Reasserting the Fundamentals of Systems Analysis and Design through the Rudiments of Artifacts . Information Systems Education Journal, 10 (35), 67-85 (2012). http://isedj.org/2012-10/N3/ISEDJv10n3p67.html
    7. Jafar, M. A Tools-Based Approach to Teaching Data Mining Methods.  Journal of Information Technology Education, (9) 1-24 (2010).
    8. Anderson, R. K., Jafar, M. J., & Rogers, J. Superfund Site Analysis Using Web 2.0 Technologies.  Journal of Information Systems Applied Research, 3 (6), 1-11 (2010).http://jisar.org/3/6/index.html “Received Meritorious Paper Award”
    9. Anderson, R. K. & Jafar, M. A Visual Approach To Exploratory Data Mining.  Review of Business Information Systems, 13 (1), 1-13 (2009).
    10. Jafar, M. & Abdullat A. Exploratory Analysis of the Readability of Information Privacy Statement of The Primary Social Networks , Journal of Business and Economics Research, 7(12) (2009).
    11. Anderson, R. & Jafar, M.  A Visual Approach to Exploratory Data Mining. Review of Business Information Systems, 13(1) 1-13 (2009).
    12. Jafar, M. & Anderson, R.  Data Mining Methods Course for Computer Information Systems Students. Information Systems Education Journal, 6 (48), 1-12 (2008), http://isedj.org/6/48/index.html
    13. Landram, F., Jafar, M. & Abdullat, A. (2008).  Combining Forecasts within the Multivariate C_Logistic: A Fresh Approach to Forecasting. Southwestern Economic Review, 35 (1), 243-253.
    14. Jafar, M., Anderson, R., & Abdullat, A. (2008).  Comparison of Dynamic Web Content Processing Language Performance Under a LAMP Architecture. Journal of Information Systems Applied Research, 1 (1), 3-16. http://jisar.org/1/1/index.html “Received Best Paper Award”
    15. Jafar, M., Anderson, R. , & Abdullat, A. (2008).  Software Academic Initiatives: A Framework for supporting a Contemporary Information Systems Curriculum. Information Systems Education Journal, 6 (55), 1-13, http://isedj.org/6/55/index.html
    16. Anderson, R., Jafar, M. , & Abdullat, A. (2007).  Teaching Scalability Issues in Large Scale Database Application. Information Systems Education Journal, 5 (28), 3-14, http://isedj.org/5/28/index.html
    17. Eltaha, M. & Jafar, M. (2006).  Characterization of the Departure Process in a Closed Fork-Join Synchronization Network. Applied Mathematics and Computation Journal, 181 (1), 214-219.
    18. Jafar, M. & Bahill, A. (1993).  Interactive Verification and Validation of Knowledge-Based Expert Systems. IEEE Expert, 8 (1), 25-32.
    19. Jafar, M. (1993): Validation and Verification of Knowledge-based Systems. Department of Management & Systems. Washington State University. Pullman, WA 99164-4726 musa@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu. 
      Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI);
      https://new.aaai.org/Library/Workshops/1993/ws93-05-019.php
    20. Jafar, M. , Bahill, A. , & Osborn, D. (1991).  A knowledge-base system for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning. ASHRAE Journal.
    21. Bahill, A., Jafar, M. , & Moller, R. (1991). Tools for extracting knowledge and validating expert systems . In Uma Gupta (Ed.) Validation & Verification of Knowledge-Based Systems, (pp. 164-169). CA:  IEEE Computer Society Press.
    22. Jafar, M. & Bahill, A. (1990). Validator, A Tool for Verifying and Validating Personal Computer Based Expert Systems. In Operations Research and Artificial Intelligence: The Integration of Problem-Solving Strategies. D.E. Brown & C.C. White (Eds). Academic Publishers, Boston 1990. In Brown D.E. and White C.C. (Ed.) Operations Research and Artificial Intelligence: The Integration of Problem-Solving Strategies. Boston:  Academic Publishers.

    CONFERENCE REFEREED PROCEEDINGS:

    1. Jafar, M. & Waldman, M. (2016). An Interactive Toolbox for Twitter Content Analytics. 2016 Proceedings of the Conference on Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR). (Conference Distinguished Paper Award) http://proc.conisar.org/2016/best.html ) http://proc.conisar.org/2016/pdf/4259.pdf
    2. Jafar, M., Babb, J., & Abdullat, A. (2016). Emergence of Data Analytics in the Information Systems Curriculum. 2016 Proceedings of the Conference on Information Systems and Computing Education (EDSIG) http://proc.iscap.info/2016/pdf/4051.pdf
    3. Shah, G., Rovenpor, J. & Jafar, M. (2015). A Brand under attack: The Boycott of Stoli Vodka and the Power of Social Media. NACRA Annual Meeting, Orlando FL. (Conference Best Case Bronze Award)
    4. Jafar, M. J., Bab, J. S. & Dana, K. (2013). Decision-Making via Visual Analysis using the Natural Language Toolkit and R. Conference on Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR). http://proc.conisar.org/2013/pdf/2821.pdf
    5. Bab, J. S. & Dana, K., Keith, M. & Jafar M. J. (2013) “Evolving Mobile Architectures: A Case Study in the Development of a Location Privacy Application. Information Systems”, Conference on Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR). http://proc.conisar.org/2012/pdf/2234.pdf
    6. Jafar, M. J., Bab, J. S. & Dana, K. (2012). “A Framework for an Interactive Word-Cloud Approach for Visual Analysis of Digital Text using NLTK”, Conference on Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR). http://proc.conisar.org/2012/pdf/2240.pdf
    7. Bab, J. S. & Dana, K., Keith, M. & Jafar M. J. (2012). “Evolving Mobile Architectures: A Case Study in the Development of a Location Privacy Application”, Conference on Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR). http://proc.conisar.org/2012/pdf/2234.pdf
    8. Jafar, M. J. & Bab, J. S. (2010). “Artifacts as Interface: Reasserting the Fundamentals of Software Systems Analysis and Design”, Information Systems Educator's Conference (ISECON). http://proc.isecon.org/
    9. Jafar, M. & Anderson R. “A Tools-Based Approach to Teaching Data Mining Methods”, Information Systems Educator's Conference (2009).
    10. Anderson R., Jafar M. and Rogers W. (2009) “Superfund Site Analysis Using Web 2.0 Technologies”, Conference on Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR) (Conference Meritorious Paper Award). http://proc.conisar.org/2009/4153/index.html
    11. Jafar, M., Anderson, R., & Abdullat, A. (2008).  Comparison of Dynamic Web Content Processing Language Performance Under a LAMP Architecture. Conference on Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR). http://proc.conisar.org/2008/2732/index.html “Conference Best Paper Award”

    CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS:

    1. 2016: Using IONIC for Mobile Application Development, EDSIGCON Proceedings 2016; Jeffry Babb, Kareem Dana & Musa Jafar http://proc.iscap.info/2016/workshops.html
    2. 2014: Interactive Information Visualization with HTML5 & Web-GL, ISECON-CONISAR http://csbapp.uncw.edu/journal/searchp.aspx?item=a&letOnly=0&word=Jafar   
    3. 2013: Data Analytics with R; ISECON-CONISAR 2013 http://csbapp.uncw.edu/journal/searchp.aspx?item=a&letOnly=0&word=Jafar
    4. 2012: Data Mining Methods Using R. Information Systems Educator's Conference http://csbapp.uncw.edu/journal/searchp.aspx?item=a&letOnly=0&word=Jafar
    5. 2011: Data Mining Methods Using SQL Server Analysis Services, http://csbapp.uncw.edu/journal/searchp.aspx?item=a&letOnly=0&word=Jafar
    6. 2010: Data Mining with SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence Development Studio A Hands-on Approach. AMCIS 2010 Proceedings. Paper 65. http://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2010/65 202 Downloads
    7. 1993: Jafar, M.: Validation and Verification of Knowledge-based Systems. Department of Management & Systems. Washington State University. Pullman, WA 99164-4726 musa@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu. Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI). 
      https://new.aaai.org/Library/Workshops/1993/ws93-05-019.php

    Professional Experience 

    • 2000 IBM: Senior Software Engineer & Architect
    • 1997 US WEST COMMUNICATION: Senior Software Engineer 
    • 1995 BELL COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH: Senior Software Engineer

     

  • Honors, Awards, and Grants
    • 2017:  Finalist: 2017 Tate Award, North American Case Research Association (NACRA).   The Curtis E. Tate Jr. Award is given each year at NACRA’s annual meeting to the case that is deemed to be the best case published in the Case Research Journal in the preceding year. 
    • 2016: Distinguished Paper Award for: An Interactive Toolbox for Twitter Content Analytics, Conference on Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR).
    • 2015:  Bronze award for best conference case for: A Brand Under Attack: The Boycott of Stoli Vodka and the Power of Social Media, NACRA.
    • 2008-2014: Phil Gensler Professorship of Computer Information Systems- West Texas A&M University, College of Business and Management.
    • 2008:  Best Paper award- Conference on Information Systems Applied Research (CONISAR).
    • 2008:  Distinguished paper award- Information Systems Educator Conference (ISECON).
    • 1996: President's Club Performance Award- US West Communication (Qwest). At the time, the President’s Club award was the highest award an Information Technology Professional can get at US West Communications.