{"id":3090,"date":"2026-05-22T12:07:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T16:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/business\/?p=3090"},"modified":"2026-05-26T08:34:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T12:34:16","slug":"meet-dilhani-marasinghe-utc-data-analytics-professor-preparing-students-for-the-future-of-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.utc.edu\/business\/2026\/05\/22\/meet-dilhani-marasinghe-utc-data-analytics-professor-preparing-students-for-the-future-of-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Dilhani Marasinghe: UTC data analytics professor preparing students for the future of business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As businesses increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making, the demand for skilled analytics professionals continues to grow. At the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, Dr. Dilhani Marasinghe helps students develop the critical-thinking and technical skills needed to succeed in the fast-changing world of data analytics, artificial intelligence and business intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since joining the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2022, Dilhani has become known for her engaging teaching style, passion for problem-solving and dedication to student success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Sri Lanka to UTC<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Originally from Sri Lanka, Dilhani grew up in a family that valued education. Inspired by her mother, who was a teacher, she knew early on that she wanted to pursue a career in education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always wanted to be a teacher,\u201d she said. \u201cEducation was a big part of my family background.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her academic journey began through Sri Lanka\u2019s competitive national university entrance process, through which she was selected for a special program at one of the country\u2019s top universities that admitted only two students from each of Sri Lanka\u2019s 25 districts. Dilhani graduated in 2010 with a degree in statistics and operations research, laying the foundation for her future career in data analytics and business research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She later moved to the United States to continue her education, earning a master\u2019s degree in statistics from Clemson University and a doctorate in industrial engineering focused on supply chain and management science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During her studies, she developed a growing interest in analytics, data visualization and using data to solve real-world business challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why data analytics matters in today\u2019s business world<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For Dilhani, the most exciting part of data analytics is uncovering meaningful patterns and turning information into actionable insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat I enjoy most is finding patterns in data, creating visualizations and using insights to solve real-world problems,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As industries continue adopting artificial intelligence, automation and predictive analytics, Dilhani believes data literacy is becoming essential across nearly every career field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe field has grown rapidly,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are more tools, more automation and more AI than ever before. Almost everything today is based on data.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her teaching focuses not only on technical analytics skills but also on helping students think critically and communicate insights effectively to influence real-world decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From pupil to UTC professor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Through her studies, Dilhani worked as a lecturer and graduate teaching assistant in statistics and quality assurance. After completing her doctorate, a friend recommended she apply for an open faculty position at UTC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opportunity turned out to be the perfect fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love nature, mountains and waterfalls, so Chattanooga felt like home,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, she enjoys being part of a collaborative campus environment where faculty members are invested in helping students grow professionally and personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople are so nice at UTC,\u201d she said. \u201cThe professors are friendly and always willing to help students succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her dedication to student growth, Dilhani co-advises the Business Analytics Club at UTC. She received the 2026 Outstanding Mentor award for the profound impact she’s made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice for students interested in data analytics careers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As demand for careers in data analytics, supply chain management and AI continues to rise, Dilhani encourages students to stay engaged both inside and outside the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her advice for students pursuing analytics careers includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n