Bellevue Professor Infuses Expertise, Emerging Technologies Into Programs

After a successful career as an Information Systems Manager and Systems Engineer in Integration, Dr. Jason Ferguson decided he could make a bigger impact in education. More than a decade and half later, he’s doing just that as Program Director for the Management Information Systems master’s and Computer Information Systems bachelor’s degree programs at Bellevue University.

“When I was in the industry, customers would call after not getting what they needed from the others involved,” he said. “Something was missing and I wanted to be part of the solution. I needed to go teach.”

Fresh Opportunity at Bellevue University

After teaching at another institution for six years, Ferguson learned about Bellevue University. “I wasn’t looking for a new job,” he said. He relocated to Bellevue, Nebraska, for the position 10 years ago and hasn’t looked back. “I thought they seemed really innovative and forward looking and my intuition paid off.”

Maintaining that innovative approach is key to Ferguson’s role as Program Director. “I’m always trying to provide fresh content and reevaluate the curriculum every two to three years, sometimes more often,” he said. Ferguson also focuses on current events and trends, encouraging his students to look at what’s happening in various industries.

Embracing Technology to Benefit Students

With new technologies emerging every day, Ferguson helps guide his students on what they’ll need to know and use in the workforce. “I help them understand which tools are developing quickly that they need to know now, and which ones can wait until later,” he said.

His classes study the Internet of Things, networks of physical devices that share information like home virtual assistants and vehicle computer systems. They also dive into AI, with one of his freshman classes creating a short storybook using several AI tools.

“They have to include a human impact story, create images, and engage critical thinking to leverage the potential of AI,” he said.

Research That Impacts Professionals, Students

With his background building information systems infrastructure for a global workforce, Ferguson developed a passion for researching human/computer interaction and VPNs. In the past, his work and research helped improve remote work long before it was common. “I wanted to make systems more usable for everyone,” he said.

Today, he’s conducting research that will benefit his students. In particular, he’s looking into how typeface design impacts student engagement online in the classroom. ”Human computer interaction crosses over to almost every area,” he said. This research could play an important role in enhancing Bellevue University’s online experience.

When he’s not teaching or researching, Ferguson enjoys spending time with his wife and two teenage children.