Q1: Tell us about your educational and professional background.
I’m the Executive Director of Strategic Analytics. Previously, I was the Vice President of Student Success at Lone Star College—Montgomery in the Greater Houston Area. I have over 20 years of higher education experience. My leadership is driven by compassion, collaboration, honesty, and the use of data science to guide decisions.
As a first-generation student and a community college (New Mexico Junior College) alumnus, I’ve dedicated my entire career to closing the access and achievement gaps in higher education. I received my doctorates at New Mexico State University in higher education administration. I have a Master’s in Educational Counseling, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. In 2018, I completed a second master’s degree in Business Analytics from Syracuse University. I’ve held various leadership position in student services and instructional services at colleges such as Arizona Western College, Alamo College, Midland College, and Lone Star College.
Q2. What will you be doing at UT Permian basin?
At UTPB, I will lead the new Office of Strategic Analytics. This Office will collaborate across the University using data science to improve student success at UTPB and in the Permian Basin. In addition, develop strategies to democratize the data for faculty, staff, and administrators to consume and use results to make informed decisions.
Q3. What do you love most about your role here?
What I most enjoy requires a three-part response. First, the ability to work with data to make decisions that improve student success and help the University improve processes and polices that also impact students. Second, working with Dr. Woodley and the Executive Team is exciting because each member brings in various perspectives and it is always a learning experience. Third, I am back home with family and I have a personal mission to give back to a community that gave so much to me, when I was growing up in Pecos, TX and Hobbs, NM.
Q4. How can students, faculty and staff take advantage of your expertise?
In the near future, the Office of Strategic Analytics will have an Intelligent Center that will be used for data science training and service as a think-tank for cultivating ideas to improve student success. In the short 2 months that I have been at UTPB, I have made it a priority to interact with as many faculty, staff, and administrators to identify their data needs and develop the tools needed so that they can consume data. In addition, I am working on developing a webpage where anyone can visit and view our data dashboards.
Q5: Tell us a fun fact about yourself!
Hmmmm…. I enjoy woodworking, reading and listing to audiobooks, and I like romantic comedies.
