Can you share your background and what led you to join the Institutional Reporting team with the OPAIR?
I’ve spent most of my career at Penn State, beginning in 2001 at the Graduate School’s Office of Alumni and Public Relations. From there, I transitioned to roles as a researcher and data analyst for Development and Alumni Relations, followed by a position in the College of Liberal Arts IT office as a Power Platform developer. In October 2023, I was fortunate to join OPAIR’s Institutional Reporting team, where I’m excited to apply these experiences in querying data and building automations.
What are some of your favorite projects or achievements at OPAIR?
One of my favorite projects was working on the IDR cohort and cohort status tables. It gave me the opportunity to dive deep into the data, gaining a better understanding of the nuances behind each field and how it is stored. I also enjoy leveraging tools like Power Automate and Power Apps/Microsoft Forms to streamline tasks. For example, it was especially rewarding when the automations I built for the NSF survey successfully compiled Excel files by college/unit and sent them out for review.
What does a typical day look like for you as an Institutional Research Analyst and Programmer?
Much of my work as an Institutional Research Analyst and Programmer involves SQL coding to extract and validate data for internal requests and external surveys like IPEDS and AAUDE. Our team is focused on improving efficiency and automating reports, so I often build views or refine existing code to incorporate new data sources. It’s a fast-paced environment where we juggle multiple projects, often collaborating throughout the day. I’m especially grateful to have a knowledgeable manager who understands Penn State’s data and to work alongside such helpful and skilled colleagues.
How do you like to unwind or spend your time outside of work?
Outside work, I love spending time with my husband, traveling to new places, and exploring the outdoors through walking and hiking. I also enjoy books, movies, and catching up with friends over dinner. We have two grown sons—one of whom is married and living in California—so we visit whenever we can. And of course, I take every opportunity to spoil our youngest “child,” Cozy, our 3-year-old Siamese mix.
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in your field?
If you’re aspiring to work in this field, my biggest advice is to be open to continuously learning new skills and tools. Having a broad skill set can help make processes more efficient and improve problem-solving. Since this is a data-heavy role, it’s essential to develop a strong understanding of datasets and databases. Becoming comfortable with querying data, recognizing patterns, and ensuring data accuracy are vital.