Industry leaders Nikhil Sharma and Darren Dworkin have joined the UMSI Advisory Board, effective July 1. Both are known for leveraging human-centered design and technology to drive innovation.

In this volunteer role, they will bring their expertise to leadership at the University of Michigan School of Information, connect with students and alumni, and contribute to the school’s mission through philanthropic support. 

UMSI alumnus Nikhil Sharma (PhD ’10) is a UX director and the head of research for Payments at Google, which includes Google Pay, Wallet, GPay India, and the payment platform supporting these services. In this role, he leads a global team of researchers and research managers. His passion is building results-driven research teams. At Google, Sharma also built and led UX research teams for Google Assistant, Display Ads and Video Ads. He has been with Google since January 2012.

Prior to this role, he was a visiting professor at Carnegie Mellon University, where he taught user-centered design and research. He also served as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Pittsburgh, conducting research on search and knowledge creation at the Katz School of Business. Earlier in his career, he worked as an architect in India.

Sharma holds a PhD in Information (human-computer interaction) from UMSI and a Bachelor of Architecture from Chandigarh College of Architecture in India.

“UMSI was a key step in my journey. I learned a lot and made some lifelong friends there,” Sharma says. As an advisory board member, he is eager to support future generations of students in benefiting from those same experiences. 

Darren Dworkin is a seasoned investor and health care technology executive with more than 30 years of experience in the technology sector, including more than 20 years dedicated to health care. He currently serves as the president and chief operating officer at Press Ganey, a leading experience management company. In this role, he oversees organizational strategy, product development, engineering, and AI and analytics platforms, contributing to the company's mission of enhancing experience and safety. 

Before joining Press Ganey in June 2021, Dworkin held several key positions at Cedars-Sinai Health System in Los Angeles from 2006 to 2021. He served as the chief digital officer and executive managing director of Ventures, where he led the implementation of a comprehensive electronic medical record system to transform patient care through advanced technology and drive innovation through strategic investing. Additionally, he founded the Cedars-Sinai Accelerator in partnership with Techstars, aimed at fostering innovation by supporting early-stage health care startups. 

Dworkin is the co-founder of Stanson Health, a clinical decision support and analytics company, and has served as managing director at Summation Health Ventures, focusing on strategic investments in health care technology. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Beyond his executive roles, Dworkin is actively involved in mentoring entrepreneurs and serves on multiple boards and advisory councils.

“UMSI stands out as a premier institution advancing the science of information in ways that are socially impactful and highly interdisciplinary,” Dworkin says. “The school’s ability to combine technical expertise with an understanding of human-centered design and social responsibility is particularly compelling. I see tremendous value in engaging with a community that embraces complexity and is preparing students to tackle challenges that span industries — including health care, where the integration of information science is increasingly vital.

“I'm inspired by the thought leadership at UMSI and energized by the chance to collaborate with fellow advisors and faculty in shaping the school’s strategic direction.” 

During their renewable three-year terms, Sharma and Dworkin will use their industry expertise to offer guidance on matters including curriculum development and research initiatives, while supporting students directly through mentorship opportunities and philanthropy.