- Campus:
- IU Bloomington
Your role was recently created – can you tell us more about your leadership position and how it came to be?
The position for Institutional Analytics is new at IU. Shortly after President Whitten began her role, she needed someone who could align the traditional institutional reporting and analytic functions across the institution. We support a lot of institutional activities and needs, in addition to compliance reporting. I’ve been in higher education for about three decades, always working in large public universities. That has always been home to me – higher education.
What did you want to be as a child, and how has that journey led you to where you are today?
I don’t know if I had anything particular in mind in terms of what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I went to college at Florida State University, business was really popular – everyone wanted to get a business degree. I decided to get a management degree because I was someone who enjoyed being around people, and I wanted to connect on the people side. I never ended up in business or corporate per se, but in college, I got my first job in the Office of Institutional Research. I have been doing this kind of work since the very beginning of my career. The field has changed and morphed over time, relying more and more on software, tools and modern technology platforms. So, while we are in the UITS division, my area isn’t necessarily a traditional technology field, even though we work very closely and partner with folks in other divisions simply based on the work we’re doing to serve the university.
What made you want to transfer universities and work at Indiana University?
I am a native Floridian, so I did my undergraduate and graduate degree at Florida State University. I stayed in Florida for a number of years, and while my children were young, we decided to move to Ohio. After about 12 years in Ohio, we moved to South Carolina. This was a really good opportunity. It expanded my portfolio, from just institutional research to assessment and analytic activities. Then, a little out of the blue, I heard about this position, and I was really intrigued just based on the overall depth and breadth of responsibilities, in addition to IU’s reputation. This was a fantastic opportunity that I really wanted to pursue. So here I am one year later!
What advice would you have for students who are looking to go into research and compliance work?
That’s really interesting because many of the people on my team don’t have an analytical or statistical background. Some have music, political science, anthropology, business, you name it as a background. I think one thing that brings us together, for folks in this field, is the opportunity to dabble in data, dabble in technology, and what packages that all together is the service we do for the university and all its constituents. Everybody is here to support students and student success, and how we go about doing that may be different than a student affairs or financial aid office. We are going through the data and helping shed light on how we can support student success. All the plans the university has are metric-driven, and data helps to show the institution is advancing, so that’s where our office has a significant role beyond just the reports we have to submit.
Do you have any advice as a woman in a leadership role?
I would say always follow what you’re interested in doing and your passions. Even if you think your educational background or prior work experience may not be a direct fit, look at the people I described as part of my team – they don’t have a traditional background. It's just that passion for wanting to do these kinds of things. So, always be open to different possibilities with your career and where it might take you. But one thing I always encourage my staff, mentees, and daughters is to never underestimate the power of social capital. I think networking opportunities are crucial, and they may be even more crucial for women because trying to get your foot in the door in a traditionally male-dominated industry, I think the social capital factor can play a large role. I applaud organizations and the Women in IT for helping bring that to light.
Do you have any advice for finding your place/role in an organization?
While it may not be easy, just try reaching out to folks, particularly in areas you're interested in, and many times you will find people who are willing to talk to you and tell you what you need to know. If one person doesn’t respond, try reaching out to someone else, and really build up that social capital and network. I have always found that to be really beneficial, and it doesn’t always have to be women. There may even be a male colleague who can provide insight or connect you to others they know.
You mentioned you were a mentor; how are some ways you’ve found mentees and what is your mentorship style like?
At my previous institution, we would have graduate students as mentees, on a regular basis. While they may not have been directly working for me, I always try to make myself available for them, whether it was informal or scheduling time throughout the semester to check-in, and it was an opportunity for them to ask me questions, build that network, and I'll feel more comfortable being a resource when they start looking for jobs. I have also had people reach out through classroom activities. I try to make myself available because I think it’s really valuable to connect to people.
What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
Having been here just one year, the first year in any role is incredibly challenging, especially when you’re moving to a new location and getting familiar with things. So, I have not had time to do any of the things I usually enjoy doing, which are cooking, working in the yard, and being in the yard. So, this year I’m going to make a real effort to get out on my bicycle and bike on the amazing trails in Indiana. Beyond that, I also have two dogs, six cats, and a five-year-old grandson, so they keep me busy!