Lerner Welcomes New Faculty: Rafi Turitz-Sweifach

This year, the UD Alfred Lerner College welcomed several new faculty members into its community. Rafi Turitz-Sweifach is a visiting professor of operations management; he spoke with Lerner about his professional background and what inspired his research focus.

Lerner: What is your professional and academic background?

Turitz-Sweifach: I hold an Honors B.S. in economics from the University of Delaware. I also hold an MBA and M.S. in business analytics and information management from UD.

Lerner: What is your research focus?

Turitz-Sweifach: My research interests focus broadly on AI, and I have a specific interest in AI ethics and the intersection of AI and education. I have been involved in a number of projects and groups at UD that focus on AI in a variety of areas.

Lerner: What inspired you to work in your field/research/subject area?

Turitz-Sweifach: The wide variety of responses to AI’s sudden boost in popularity a few years ago made me very interested in exploring the ethical aspects of AI and its use in education. Additionally, I had the opportunity to work for UD’s Academic Technology Services as a data analyst which led to me having a large role in a university-wide AI project called UD Study AiDE. This further deepened my interest in AI within the education space.

Lerner: What is it about UD that made you want to work/teach/research here?

Turitz-Sweifach: I had a wonderful time at UD as a student, and always felt a connection to the University, its students and faculty, and the overall atmosphere here. I love the idea of helping students find opportunities, just as faculty and staff had done for me when I was a student. When the opportunity presented itself for me to teach here, I took it without any hesitation!

Lerner: What course are you most excited to teach at Lerner?

Turitz-Sweifach: I am really excited to be teaching Decision Analytics and Visualization (BUAD345) this year. The course finds a nice balance between technical skills and critical/creative thinking.

Lerner: What is something unique about you that may surprise your peers/students? (hobby, talent, experience etc.)

Turitz-Sweifach: This is my seventh year at UD, and I’ve had the chance to experience UD from the perspective of an undergraduate student, graduate student, staff member, and now faculty as well!

 

Early Career Co-Op Program Intern: Sara Spoltore

Throughout the summer and 2025-26 school year, 22 students in UD's Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics are comprising the initial class of the Lerner-Delaware Early Career Co-op Program, a new year-long work-based learning initiative launched with a grant...

Seeing the Unseen at SYLP Economics Camp

This summer, most of the 26 Delaware-area High School students arrived at the Siegfried Youth Leadership Program (SYLP) Economics Camp, hosted at the University of Delaware, believing economics was all about money and government.  “Before this week I thought economics...

From Classrooms to Communities: MAEEE Grads Lead Change

This article was written by Cori Burcham. Like many educators earning their Master of Arts in Economics and Entrepreneurship for Educators (MAEEE) at the University of Delaware, Linda Bacon and Kylee Holliday were motivated to strengthen their students’ comprehension...

Delaware Students Compete in Shark Tank-Style Econ Event

This article was written by Cori Burcham. This spring, Team 504 – a group of fifth graders from Newark’s Brookside Elementary School – entered a pin-drop quiet conference room to present their business idea at the 2025 Meaningful Economics (ME) Competition, hosted by...

Graduate Student Stories: Tosin Idowu-Kunlere

Tosin Idowu-Kunlere is from Nigeria and is pursuing a dual MBA and M.S. in Business Analytics and Information Management at the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. As a member of the Class of 2025, Tosin brings a strong background...

Lerner Offers Grad Scholarships, AI Programs for Fall 2025

The University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics has expanded its graduate offerings for Fall 2025, including three new scholarship opportunities and three programs focused on artificial intelligence. Applications for Fall 2025 are open...