DENTON (UNT), Texas — UNT alumnus Vikas Sinha (’23 Ph.D.) and his wife, Anuradha, are expanding their commitment to the university with an additional $2.15 million gift to create The Sinha Innovation Lab for Data Science, which will support cutting-edge research and innovation within The Anuradha and Vikas Sinha Department of Data Science.

The Sinha family established the department with an original gift of over $3 million in 2024, which also created endowments to support student scholarships, professorships, research and special initiatives within the UNT College of Information, ensuring continued success and broader impact.

“We are deeply grateful to Anuradha and Vikas Sinha for their continued commitment to UNT and the legacy they are creating in the field of data science and in North Texas,” says UNT President Harrison Keller, Ph.D. “Their new gift will further expand opportunities through our world-class data science program, transforming education for generations of students to come.”

Dr. Vikas Sinha, who has served on the UNT College of Information Leadership Board since 2023, says the college is well positioned to set students up for success after graduation.

“I think the big thing about UNT always has been the inclusivity. This university is bringing people in and ensuring that they all receive a great education and are prepared for the job market,” he says. “And right now, data science is really at the heart of the job market, regardless of the domain you're working in.”

UNT College of Information’s Dean Kinshuk says the Sinha family is making a transformational impact on the lives of UNT students and in the field of data science.

“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,” Kinshuk says. “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 the faculty research, as well as industry partnerships.”

Dr. Sinha currently serves as Vice president, Mainframe Software Division Broadcom. Sinha earned a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Sri Venkateswara University in his home country of India before moving to the U.S. to further his education. He has since earned multiple 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.

“We have always believed in the gift of education,” Dr. Sinha says. “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.”

With this gift, the Sinha family further solidifies its legacy of generosity at UNT and continues to shape the future of data science education, providing North Texas students with even more opportunities to excel in their fields.