A legacy of success

Dr. Ayşe Başar, the graduate program director (GPD) of the Data Science and Analytics MSc program, is stepping down at the end of this year. After retiring from TMU as a professor emerita, she will become the president of Kadir Has University in Istanbul, Turkey.

As the founding GPD of the first program of its kind in Canada, Dr. Başar played an instrumental role in the proposal and development of the program, which admitted its first cohort almost a decade ago. Dr. Başar’s highlights include a highly successful periodic program review and student successes in terms of publishing academic papers based on their MRP or thesis work, and acquiring high-level data science careers after graduation. In addition to those in senior positions managing AI and data science teams, graduates are also teaching at leading academic institutions.

“We are very grateful to Ayşe for her pivotal role in fostering the breakthrough Data Science and Analytics MSc program, which has garnered a strong reputation in Canada and internationally, and continues to produce leaders in both industry and academia,” said Dr. Carl Kumaradas, vice-provost and dean, YSGPS. “We thank Ayşe for her dedicated service as GPD and wish her all the best for her next chapter in Turkey.”

Looking back on her time at TMU, Dr. Başar says she will miss her colleagues, students and an institutional culture that enabled her to pursue her dreams and aspirations.

“I would like to thank all the previous and current YSGPS team members for their continuous support, collegiality and positive energy throughout my term,” said Dr. Başar. “Last but not least, special thanks to [Graduate Program Administrator] Igor Rosic, with whom I have been working from the beginning. I have been so lucky to have him on my side.”

YSGPS welcomes Mathematics Professor Dr. Pawel Pralat as interim GPD of Data Science and Analytics, effective Jan. 1, 2026.