Stephane (STEH-fan) Collignon, an associate professor of management information systems and program coordinator for the online Master of Science in Applied AI and Data Analytics program in the Department of Management Information Systems and Supply Chain at the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, has been selected for the April Faculty Feature.
Born in France and raised as an “army brat,” Collignon spent his childhood moving across Europe, even recalling history firsthand in West Berlin while the Wall still stood.
He also lived in England for a short time to polish his English before moving to the United States at the age of 30. Already fluent in French and conversational in Russian and German, he arrived with a world of language.
After 18 years in the country — including a decade at WVU — he now proudly calls Morgantown home.
“My wife, Olga, and I were both drawn to the Chambers College for its world-class research and teaching, family-friendly environment and strong sense of service to the Mountain State,” he said.
“I joined the University to help launch the data analytics master’s program. Now in its 10th year, the program has evolved into applied AI and data analytics, a testament to the University’s commitment to student success in this high-impact field.”
He also noted that the master’s program is updating its curriculum to include cutting-edge, AI-driven machine learning and simulation, building on its proven track record of career success for its graduates.
“The program is designed to turn students into data-driven leaders who can use AI and analytics to solve real-world business problems, and I am proud to be a part of this evolution to ensure our students have the competitive edge needed to succeed in today’s market,” Collignon added.
Drawing on his experience as a logistics analyst and project manager in France, he teaches graduate business data analytics courses and conducts research related to human-computer interactions.
His work highlights both the risks and innovations within the field.
In a study forthcoming in the Journal of Information Systems Education, Collignon examines how using generative AI as a shortcut, rather than a tool, impedes student learning and performance.
An expert in grounded theory, he was selected by the Academy of Management — the world’s leading association for management scholars — to share his analysis on how managerial passion drives the readoption of wind-power technology (sails) in the cargo shipping industry.
While these academic achievements are significant, his proudest achievement is leading the charge to bring the Big XII+ MIS Research Symposium to WVU in 2027. By hosting the country’s top researchers in Morgantown, this event will showcase the University and Chambers College on a national stage.
He also underscores the vital roles Brad Price, department chair and associate professor of management information systems and supply chain, and Josh Hall, Milan Puskar Dean of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, played in this initiative.
Collignon said he believes higher education is the ultimate pathway to personal freedom, a sentiment that reflects his own professional journey. After an early business venture in the U.S., he decided to pivot to academia. To make this shift, he earned a doctoral degree in business information and technology from Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business.
He chose Virginia Tech after his wife, a Ukraine native he met during her doctoral studies in France, landed a faculty position there.
“My career hasn’t been very linear, but it has been a fun and interesting one,” he said. “Thanks to my college degrees, I have been able to pivot and meet every challenge with the perseverance and adaptability needed to succeed.”
Outside of work, his passions are his two sons. As a dedicated hockey dad, he recently worked with other parents and the WVU Club Hockey team to organize the “Motown Glowdown,” a glow-in-the-dark tournament at Hope Gas Ice Pavilion this month that drew more than 150 families from Pennsylvania.
“This is the first hockey tournament Morgantown has hosted in decades, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the WVU hockey team volunteering en masse,” Collignon said. “Working with our student-athletes to grow this great game in West Virginia was a rewarding experience.”