Saint Joseph’s University and NEST, a national provider of integrated facilities management (IFM) solutions, announced a multi-year partnership designed to expand applied analytics education and create real-world learning experiences focused on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data-driven decision-making.
NEST will sponsor the 2026 Saint Joseph’s University High School Analytics Competition featuring 33 teams from 14 schools. This year will feature a new NEST AI Award, recognizing excellence in AI-related analysis and insight.
The competition includes an in-person event on March 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET at Saint Joseph’s University, featuring the top eight high school teams. Judges will review and evaluate student analytics projects and provide feedback.
Participating high schools in the 2026 Saint Joseph’s University High School Analytics Competition include:
- Abington Senior High School
- Camden Catholic High School
- Cherry Hill High School East
- Colegio San Ignacio
- Episcopal Academy
- Holy Ghost Preparatory School
- La Salle College High School
- Malvern Prep Mount
- Saint Joseph Academy
- Padua Academy
- Salesianum School
- Souderton Area High School
- The Village School
- Unionville High School
The collaboration also includes a semester-long data-mining project led by Kathleen C. Garwood, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Decision and System Sciences. University students will work with NEST on a full-semester exercise applying AI and machine learning to service provider pricing, meeting weekly with NEST leaders and using real-world data to develop and test models.
“This partnership with NEST reflects our commitment to experiential learning and preparing students to lead in an increasingly data-driven economy,” said Dr. Garwood. “By connecting classroom instruction with real-world applications of analytics and artificial intelligence, we are giving students the opportunity to develop practical skills, engage with industry leaders, and understand how data can drive smarter decision-making across essential industries.”
With this announcement, NEST continues to grow its relationship with Saint Joseph’s University and the Haub School of Business. NEST CEO Rob Almond Jr., MBA ’04, was inducted into the Haub School of Business Hall of Fame in 2024 and serves on the advisory board for the University’s Department of Decision and System Sciences.
“Students learn best when they can connect classroom concepts to real problems and real data,” said Almond, who has been CEO of South Jersey-based NEST since 2015. “This partnership creates meaningful opportunities for students to apply analytics and AI in ways that translate directly to the workforce, while also highlighting how facilities management has become a discipline driven by transparency, technology, and decision-making.”
About NEST
NEST is the pioneer of the Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) industry in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1994, NEST delivers day-to-day tactical management of facilities, financial consulting, analytics, project management, and construction for major multi-site brands across North America. NEST provides 360° support 24 hours a day through one comprehensive facilities management solution that drives cost savings while maintaining an exceptional customer experience. To learn more about NEST, visit enterNEST.com or follow NEST on LinkedIn.
About Saint Joseph’s University
Founded in 1851 as Philadelphia’s Jesuit university, Saint Joseph’s University prepares students for a rapidly changing world by focusing on academic excellence and courageous exploration. With an intellectual tradition distinguished by a foundational liberal arts core and diversified by strong professional programs in business, nursing, health and science, and education, Saint Joseph’s students are empowered, challenged and supported by high-quality faculty members to follow their own path. As a comprehensive university with locations in Philadelphia and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, undergraduate and graduate students study in the University’s five schools and colleges — the College of Arts and Sciences, the Erivan K. Haub School of Business, the School of Education and Human Development, the School of Health Professions and the School of Nursing and Allied Health. With academic offerings in the most sought-after majors, including leading programs in the first-in-the-nation Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, a Saint Joseph’s education is enriched through the University’s network of cooperative education employers, clinical placements and professional internships. Outside of the classroom, the University’s Division I student-athletes compete at the highest levels in 21 different sports. Upon graduation, nearly 100% of students are employed, pursuing advanced degrees or volunteering in prestigious service programs. The University’s network of more than 110,000 proud alumni keep alive the rallying cry — The Hawk Will Never Die.
