On Thursday, May 22, 2025, the University of North Texas (UNT) announced a generous donation of $2.15 million from alumnus Dr. Vikas Sinha (’23 Ph.D.) and his wife, Anuradha, to establish The Sinha Innovation Lab for Data Science. This new facility will advance research and innovation within The Anuradha and Vikas Sinha Department of Data Science at UNT.
This latest contribution adds to the Sinha family’s previous donation of over $3 million in 2024, which was instrumental in founding the data science department. The initial gift also established endowments to provide scholarships, support professorships, and fund special initiatives at the UNT College of Information.
UNT President Harrison Keller, Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for the continued contributions of the Sinha family. ‘We are deeply grateful to Anuradha and Vikas Sinha for their ongoing commitment to UNT and the legacy they are creating in the field of data science and in North Texas,’ Keller stated. ‘Their new gift will further expand opportunities through our world-class data science program, transforming education for generations of students to come.’
Dr. Sinha, who currently serves on the UNT College of Information Leadership Board since 2023, highlighted the university’s commitment to inclusivity and preparing students for a competitive job market. He emphasized the growing importance of data science across various industries, noting that UNT’s program is well-suited to equip graduates for these demands.
Kinshuk, Dean of the UNT College of Information, lauded the transformational impact of the Sinha family’s philanthropy. ‘Mrs. Anuradha Sinha and Dr. Sinha have been actively transforming the future of our students, and their generous support to establish The Sinha Innovation Lab for Data Science will take that to new heights,’ said Kinshuk. ‘The state-of-the-art lab will not only provide advanced skills and knowledge to the students but will also create tremendous opportunities for advancing faculty research and industry partnerships.’
Dr. Sinha, who holds the position of Vice President of the Mainframe Software Division at Broadcom, has an impressive academic background with degrees including a Ph.D. from UNT, a master’s in predictive analytics from Northwestern University, and a master’s in structural/ocean engineering from Florida Atlantic University.
Reflecting on the impact of their contributions, Dr. Sinha stated, ‘We have always believed in the gift of education. We firmly believe anything on the education front brings about a generational change, and when we saw that UNT is comprised of so many first-generation college graduates and their families — that actually changes that family for generations to come and that is very fulfilling.’
The Sinha family’s investment further cements a legacy of educational philanthropy at UNT and provides substantial opportunities for students in North Texas to thrive in the burgeoning field of data science.