Sharen A Bakke

After earning her PhD in Management Science from Kent State University in 2006, Dr. Sharen Bakke commenced her academic career as an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University. Her initial responsibilities included teaching foundational courses such as IST 203 (Spreadsheet Skills and Applications) and IST 305 (Information Systems in the Business World). Subsequently, she transitioned to a Visiting Instructor role, ultimately advancing to Senior College Lecturer. Now, Dr. Bakke’s teaching interests include project management, business analysis, and knowledge management.

During her tenure at CSU, particularly within the Information Systems department, Dr. Bakke recognized an opportunity to broaden students’ knowledge base while supporting their academic and professional growth. In 2012, she was appointed coordinator of the Information Systems Co-Op program (IS Co-Op), an experiential education initiative that integrates classroom instruction with practical workplace experience. Students typically enroll in their sophomore year and alternate between six-month work assignments and academic study until graduation, thereby gaining up to 18 months of relevant IT experience through three work sessions under a five-year plan.

Beginning with the July 2019 cycle, the program experienced a decline in enrollment, attributed to both the COVID-19 pandemic and a diminishing interest among students in alternating extended work and academic sessions. Several industry partners suspended participation during the pandemic, and remote work environments presented additional challenges. Furthermore, students expressed concerns regarding the additional semesters required for completion relative to the one credit hour awarded per session, leading to reduced application rates.

In response, Dr. Bakke restructured the IS Co-Op program, renaming it the “IS Applied Learning Experience” and increasing the credit hours earned per session from one to three. The new structure also offers greater flexibility in session lengths and is effective starting January 2024. This revision is expected to appeal to both students and industry partners, especially given that most placements occur from May through August, and should foster increased student engagement. As of December 2025, nearly 100 students have secured substantive IT experience with employers across Northeast Ohio.

With these enhancements implemented, Dr. Bakke’s focus shifted toward curricular improvement. Notable factors—such as declining enrollment, competitive pressures, and alignment with regional employer needs—underscore the necessity of modernizing the undergraduate offerings. Simultaneously with her teaching and service responsibilities, she launched an initiative in January 2023 to revamp the degrees offered by the Information Systems department.

To support this effort, Dr. Bakke established the “Reimagining the Information Systems Undergraduate Degrees Committee,” comprising IS faculty member Brigid Campbell, Senior Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Advising Anne Nelson, and herself as chair and principal contributor.

In August 2023, the department approved the following Master Plan as recommended by the committee:

·       Introduce a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (BS-IS) degree, available Fall 2024, designed to reflect the technical rigor of the field and equip graduates with essential IT competencies.

·       Establish IST 360 – Data Analysis with Python and R as an elective addressing universal analytical skills sought by employers.

·       Update the Information Systems minor to include IST 360 – Data Analysis with Python and R (effective Fall 2024).

·       Revise the current BBA in Information Systems (BBA-IS) into a BBA in Business Analytics (BBA-BA), beginning Fall 2025, to fulfill demand for a dedicated Business Analytics major in the College of Business. This pivot addresses a significant interest area for both students and employers and meets the growing need for qualified data analysts.

·       Sunset the existing BBA-IS program after Spring 2025.

·       Following state approval and adoption of the BBA-BA, the BBA-IS will be retired, with all coursework retained to ensure a seamless teach-out process.

Beyond her instructional duties, Dr. Bakke is actively engaged in curriculum development, collaborates closely with colleagues to enrich course offerings, advises students, serves on departmental committees, and pursues continuous professional development to maintain expertise in the discipline.