About Us

The KSU Office of Data Strategy was established in July 2023 to provide executive level direction, management oversight, and strategic leadership for enhancing data informed decision making, utilizing modern enterprise platforms and data democratization models, and driving insights for improved student outcomes and operational efficiencies. 
 
Data Strategy engages across the university to facilitate the collection, standardization, distribution, and governance to deliver sustainable, accessible, and quality data.​

  • Data strategy is the direction for unifying enterprise data, reducing duplicative efforts, and building a stronger data foundation to inform decision making.​​ 
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  • Data strategy is NOT a means of seizing control of data from departments, reducing the data workforce, or an attempt to manipulate data.​​ 

Did You Know

Data-Driven Insights for Strategic Decision-Making

Access essential reports and analytical tools to support research, planning, and student success at KSU. This collection includes national databases, Georgia-specific insights, and KSU-focused reports, offering valuable data on enrollment, employment outcomes, and tuition trends. Gain insights into conducting research and making important strategic decisions.

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Association of Institutional Research (AIR) Membership

KSU has as an organizational membership for AIR. Accessing benefits is easy. If you don’t already have one, create an account at AIR. If you have an existing account, simply use that one. In your membership profile, ensure that your current employer is accurate. Connecting your profile to Kennesaw State University is how you will access benefits.

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Guiding Principles

The Office of Data Strategy Adheres to the Following Guiding Principles

  • Recognize data as a valued university strategic asset.
  • Embrace a culture supportive of data strategy via defined and governed processes and systems, including mitigating risks.
  • Promote collaboration, transparency, communication, change management, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Establish systemic efforts to drive data quality and integrity (e.g., one source of truth, limited systems, definitions, automation). ​ 
  • Strive for operational and service excellence. 
  • Ensure strategies in place to ensure security, privacy, and compliance requirements.​ 
  • Facilitate on-going dialogue and training opportunities to promote a culture of data informed decision making (e.g., data literacy, communities of practice). 

Data Strategy Staff

Name
Position
  • Assistant Vice President, Data Strategy

    sgillil5@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-5959
    TS 132

  • Executive Director, Operational Reporting and Analytics

    dhopki26@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-5722
    TS 131

  • Lead Data Architect

    asaiyed@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-5977
    TS 145

  • Director, Data Governance

    amill361@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-5762
    TS 130

  • Strategic Business Data Analyst, Data Strategy

    ksclafa1@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6116
    TS 146

  • Associate Director, Institutional Research

    bhair@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-4881
    TS 154

  • Senior Statistician

    smerrit3@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-3579
    TS 154

  • Senior Statistician

    kwang14@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6430
    TS 154

  • Institutional Research Analyst

    smf5293@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-5708
    TS 154A

  • Institutional Research Analyst

    zreiner1@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-2350
    TP 3725 B2

  • Associate Director, Data Analysis

    ltrahan@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6218
    TP 1803

  • Business Data Analyst

    swaggon1@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-7052
    TS

  • Business Data Analyst

    mkeith12@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-5329
    TS

  • Business Data Analyst

    psolanor@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-7068
    TS