Love Data Week 2025
Hosted by the Division of Educational & Institutional Effectiveness and facilitated by the Office of Educational Effectiveness
International Love Data Week is a global event dedicated to celebrating data in all its forms. This year, Stony Brook University is excited to celebrate Love Data Week with a series
of 30-minute webinars aimed to promote proficiency with data, showcase innovative data projects, and foster a community
of data enthusiasts across campus. Hosted by the Division of Educational & Institutional Effectiveness and facilitated
by the Office of Educational Effectiveness, we invite all SBU faculty, staff and students
to join in the festivities, learn from colleagues in our campus community, and fall
in love with the power of data!
Schedule of Events
Monday, February 10
To share data accessibly, there are many things you can do to format your spreadsheets
and tables. Let's discuss a few best practices to ensure everyone can access and love
your data. Facilitated by Lindsay Bryde. Lindsay is the Course Content Accessibility Specialist
in the Center for Learning and Teaching (CELT). She's been teaching English and Education courses for the last fifteen
years. She co-edited the collection RuPedagogies of Realness: Essays on Teaching and
Learning with RuPaul's Drag Race, published by McFarland in 2022 Learn practical tips and tricks for designing effective surveys and crafting great
survey questions in this short presentation. Explore best practices to make your surveys
engaging, clear, and capable of gathering meaningful responses. Facilitated by Simran Kaur, MA & Ahmed Belazi, MPH, IPC. Simran is a Survey Research
Analyst and part of the CRAFT (Communication, Research, Assessment, Fundraising, and
Technology) Team. She plans, develops, and administers both targeted and institution-wide
surveys, prepares data files, analyzes results, and communicates essential findings.
Ahmed serves as the Executive Director of Strategic Analytics and Technologies in
the Division of Student Affairs and co-leads the CRAFT Team which leverages expertise
in Communication, Research and Assessment, Fundraising, and Technology towards strategic
divisional goals. Discover how to locate reliable open datasets for academic or professional projects,
and learn about key resources, search strategies, and tips for evaluating data. Facilitated by Ahmad Pratama, PhD. Ahmad is the Data Literacies Lead at Stony Brook
University Libraries, where he develops workshops, creates research guides, and provides
consultations on a wide range of data-related topics. He is dedicated to building
a robust data literacy program to support the entire SBU community.
Tuesday, February 11
This talk will demonstrate why caring about students requires data. Detailed data
analytics of undergraduate learning patterns at multiple institutions will be used
to reveal whether faculty are mitigating, maintaining, or exacerbating inequities. Facilitated by Ross Nehm, PhD. Ross Nehm is PI of the BER Lab and is Professor of
Ecology & Evolution and a member of the graduate program in Science Education. He
completed his graduate work in biology and science education at the University of
California-Berkeley and Columbia University. His major awards include a CAREER award
from the National Science Foundation, a student mentoring award from CUNY, and a teaching
award from Berkeley. He was named an Education Fellow in the Life Sciences by the
U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Professor Nehm has served in academic leadership
roles nationally and internationally, including as Editor-in-Chief of the journal
Evolution: Evolution Education and Outreach, Associate Editor of Science & Education, Associate Editor of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Editor of CBE-Life Sciences Education, and a board member of several other academic journals. He has been a frequent invited
speaker nationally and internationally, including at the U.S. National Academy of
Sciences, as a James Moore Lecturer at the Society for Integrative and Comparative
Biology, and as a keynote speaker in several countries (e.g., Germany, Sweden, China,
Chile). Prof. Nehm is the author of more than 60 journal articles, 12 book chapters, and well
over 100 conference papers. He has successfully directed (as Principal Investigator)
multiple research studies > $1M and secured more than $8M in research funding. He
has served on the research advisory boards of many federally funded science education
projects, the National Science Foundation’s Committee of Visitors, and many NSF panels
as Chair. His research findings have been featured in The New Republic, Science magazine’s
Editor’s Choice, CBS News, and many other outlets. Learn about what types of data and visualizations you have at your fingertips. Facilitated by Robert Miller, PhD & Sean Hoffman, MS. With over two decades of experience
in higher education administration, Dr. Miller currently serves as the Director of
Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness at Stony Brook University. Sean
Hoffman is the Assistant Director for Analytics in the Division of Educational & Institutional
Effectiveness. He is responsible for design and implementation of Stony Brook Analytics
Tableau dashboards, as well as the training of University personnel in their use.
He provides data and analysis to assist the University in benchmarking, reporting,
and strategic planning. Sean also serves as the Institution’s primary representative
to the Association of American Universities (AAU) Data Exchange, as well as an at-large
Council Member. Explore key findings from the 2023 Sexual Health Services Survey, highlighting the
critical role of comprehensive data collection in advancing health equity. We will
learn about the impact of data disaggregation on service delivery, emerging trends
in sexual health services, and evidence-based approaches to trauma-informed care.
Through examination of real-world data and outcomes, we'll discuss how healthcare
organizations can enhance their data collection practices to better serve diverse
populations and improve clinical outcomes. Facilitated by John Obi, MPH. John is a Data and Analytics Analyst Coordinator and
part of CRAFT team. His professional work encompasses data analytics specialties,
including data collection, analysis, visualization, problem-solving and communication
at Students Health Wellness and Prevention Services.
Wednesday, February 12
Join us as we explore publicly available data sources that reveal valuable insights
into the career outcomes of academic programs. Learn how tools like the U.S. Department
of Education's College Scorecard, Census Bureau’s Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes,
and professional platforms like LinkedIn and PayScale can be leveraged to understand
employment trends, salary benchmarks, and industry trajectories. Whether you're a
researcher, advisor, or data enthusiast, this session will equip you with practical
knowledge and resources to analyze career outcomes and support informed decision-making.
Perfect for anyone curious about the intersection of education, employment, and data! Facilitated by Daniel Pitti, MS. Dan is the Senior Operations and Data Analyst for
the Career Center. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from SUNY
Purchase in 2015 and Master of Science in Applied Health Informatics from Stony Brook
University in 2020. Dan was the recipient of the 2015 Emerging Scholar award from
SUNY Purchase, and following graduation worked at the Henri Begleiter Neurodynamics
Laboratory at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, co-authoring several papers on outcomes
relating to Alcohol Use Disorder. During this time Dan became interested in Data Analytics,
and transitioned career paths from academic research towards this new focus. Discover the range of survey tools available and learn the basics of using them effectively.
We'll explore the pros and cons of each platform, discuss ideal use cases, and offer
key considerations to help you choose the best fit for your needs. Facilitated by Simran Kaur, MA & Ahmed Belazi, MPH, IPC. Simran is a Survey Research
Analyst and part of the CRAFT (Communication, Research, Assessment, Fundraising, and
Technology) Team. She plans, develops, and administers both targeted and institution-wide
surveys, prepares data files, analyzes results, and communicates essential findings.
Ahmed serves as the Executive Director of Strategic Analytics and Technologies in
the Division of Student Affairs and co-leads the CRAFT Team which leverages expertise
in Communication, Research and Assessment, Fundraising, and Technology towards strategic
divisional goals. This presentation will briefly discuss types of evidence used for program/external
reviews versus annual assessment of program learning outcomes. In depth discussion
on simplified ways to identify the evidence (data) used for assessment of learning
outcomes, analysis of the data, and closing an evidence-based loop. If times permits,
steps on how you can take your love of evidence to the next level! Facilitated by Debbie Zelizer, PhD, LCSW. Dr. Zelizer (she/her) is a Clinical Associate
Professor in the School of Health Professions and Chair of the Department of Health
Science, overseeing professionally accredited programs and the Health Science major.
In 2014, she participated in the Assessment Academy, where she developed expertise
in making evidence-based curricular decisions. She has served on various re-accreditation
committees, including the 2024 MSCHE Standard 5 committee, and has been an active
member of the General Education Advisory Committee and the Assessment Council. She
currently serves as chair of the Assessment Council. Learn about CELT’s journey conducting educational research around the topic of active
learning classrooms (ALCs). Discover how CELT collected and used the data to inform
and guide our research exploration on ALC. Facilitated by Yiren Kong, PhD. Yiren is an Educational Research and Grant Development
Specialist in the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. His responsibilities
include overseeing educational research projects, applying for grants, and more.
Thursday, February 13
Join us for a lively 30-minute session during Love Data Week! We'll dive into the
fascinating world of course evaluation data and discover how to turn student feedback
into actionable insights. Learn how to spot trends, decode comments, and use this
valuable information to create an even more engaging and dynamic classroom experience.
Whether you're looking to address common concerns or celebrate your successes, this
session will equip you with the tools to make data-driven improvements that your students
will love. Get ready to transform your teaching with the power of data. Facilitated by Rose Tirotta-Esposito, EdD & Yasmene Kimble, EdD. Rose is the Director
of the Center for Excellence in Learning the Teaching (CELT) and has close to 30 years
of experience in teaching, course assessment, instructional design, and management
in both K-12 and higher education. Yasmene is an Assessment Specialist at the Center
for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT). Her previous experience includes teaching,
instructional design, and administration in both K-12 and adult education. She holds
an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in K-12 Leadership in Urban
School Settings from the University of Southern California. In today's data-driven world, effective data governance is crucial for organizations
to ensure data quality, compliance, and security. This presentation will provide a
comprehensive overview of data governance, focusing on its key components, benefits,
and best practices. Attendees will learn about the roles and responsibilities within
a governance framework, the processes and controls necessary for maintaining data
integrity, and the tools and technologies that support data governance initiatives.
Facilitated by Theresa Diemer, MA & Arielle Markiewicz. Theresa Diemer is the Assistant
Director for Data Governance and Management. She is responsible for maintaining and
ensuring that data sources owned by IRPE are valid and robust in order to meet internal
and external reporting requirements. She works with university leaders to understand
business rules and operational requirements; ensuring analysts in the IRPE Office
and others in the university have access to appropriate data. Arielle Markiewicz is
a business analyst for data governance in the Office of Institutional Research, Planning
& Institutional Effectiveness. In this role, she supports data governance activities
to advance policy development and coordination, data stewardship, data definitions
and standards, and communications strategies. Moderators and mediators can reveal fascinating nuances in your data, if you're willing
to introduce more variables. Figure out where an effect happened, or why it happened,
by letting things get a bit more complicated. Facilitated by Carl Lejuez, PhD. Dr. Lejuez serves as Stony Brook's chief academic
officer, with responsibility for all academic units and operations. He is also a professor
of clinical psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology.
His appointment began on July 1, 2022. Lejuez oversees the academic mission of the university, providing direct supervision
for all academic units, support services, and operations, including enrollment management
and student success, and coordinating all academic programs. The deans and directors
of the West Campus colleges, schools, libraries, centers, and institutes report to
him, as does the associate provost for the Lichtenstein Center. He also collaborates
with the executive vice president of health sciences to support the health sciences
schools on the East Campus. Across these areas, leaders work to provide greater alignment
in our research enterprise, enhance interdisciplinary education, and offer enhanced
services to all students and faculty. Prior to his affiliation with Stony Brook, Lejuez served as provost and executive
vice president at the University of Connecticut as well as the dean of the College
of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Kansas, where he also served as
the university as interim provost for two years. He spent the bulk of his academic
career at the University of Maryland, where he was a professor in the clinical psychology
program in the department of psychology and where he served as an associate dean for
research for the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. His other academic appointments
include research professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University,
and an adjunct faculty member at the Yale Child Study Center in New Haven, CT. Lejuez's research focuses on the use of basic laboratory research findings for the
development of behavioral interventions to address a wide range of psychological conditions
including mood disorders, addictions, and personality disorders for marginalized and
underserved populations. At Maryland, he founded and led the Center for Addictions,
Personality and Emotions Research. Lejuez has received grant funding from several
sources for his research and is widely published, having also served on several editorial
boards and having been a founding editor of the publication "Personality Disorders: Theory, Research and Treatment." Moreover, he is the co-editor of the "Cambridge University Press Handbook of Personality
Disorders," published in spring 2020 and currently has a contract with Oxford University
Press for a book about transdiagnostic behavioral therapy he has developed to be part
of their "Treatments at Work" series. He proudly carries the distinction as a first-generation student. He holds his M.A.
and Ph.D., both in clinical psychology, from West Virginia University, and earned
a B.A. in psychology from Emory University. Want to gain deeper insights into your students' learning and engagement? Join us
for a 30-minute demo showcasing how Brightspace learning analytics can empower you
to make data-driven decisions and improve student outcomes. Facilitated by Diana Voss, MS & Adam Pilipshen, MEd. Diana is the Director of Academic
Technologies for the Division of Information Technology. She holds a B.S. in Information
Systems from Stony Brook University and an M.S. in Information Technology from NYIT.
Diana works with internal teams to improve service management, decrease risk by applying
change management principles, increase student employee career competencies, and provide
access to academic technology to improve student success. Adam is the Assistant Director
of Assessment, Evaluation and Research in the Division of Student Affairs and part
of the CRAFT team. Adam supports and enhances the Division's assessment, evaluation,
and research efforts to help cultivate a culture of data-informed continuous advancement.
Friday, February 14
At the end of a year, have you ever sat and thought, "I wish I remembered what I did
this year"? If so, this 30-minute workshop will equip you with practical strategies
to uncover and leverage the hidden data that reflects your true work contributions.
Learn how to: By the end of this workshop, you'll have the tools to organize and collect the hidden
data that tells your unique work story – a powerful asset for performance reviews,
career development, and personal reflection. Facilitated by Julie Sharma. Julie, a former professional musician and college English
teacher and current Carnegie Mellon Data Science for Education Fellow and DoIT employee,
brings a unique blend of creativity and analytical skills to data. As a data enthusiast,
she has leveraged data to understand website usage and improve user experience; celebrate
participant accomplishments to foster a sense of community; and boost workshop offerings,
resulting in a 500% increase in registrations. A natural storyteller, Julie has long
applied data-driven approaches to quantify and qualify her own work achievements and
is passionate about empowering others to harness the power of data to achieve more
in their work and beyond. Celebrate with our talented International Love Data Week presenters and fellow data
enthusiasts in the Wang Center Theater Lobby from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.! Meet the faculty,
staff, student poster presenters, and SBU offices working with data and enjoy some
light bites in a casual atmosphere. Grab some data-themed swag and chat with colleagues
from partnering offices, including Institutional Research, Planning & Effectiveness,
the Center for Excellence in Learning & Teaching, the SBU Libraries, the Student Affairs
C.R.A.F.T. Team, and more. Registration is encouraged.
More #LOVEDATA25 Resources
Seawolves dive into data! Explore student poster presentations at the #LoveData25
Open House on Feb. 14 to discover how students drive research and innovation at SBU. The Assessment of Well-being Among States and Counties Through DLATK Analysis Correlations Between Adolescents Social Media Activity and Well-being through DLATK
Analysis The Effect of NMDA Receptor Subunit Mutations on Neural Crest-Derived Pigmentation
Melanophore Proliferation Heightened levels of 2-AG in Synovial Fluid of Patients Experiencing Severe Post-Operative
Pain Analyzing the Effects of Temperature on Micelle Formation of Soluplus® using Dynamic
Light Scattering
by Selin Akcay, Applied Mathematics & Statistics Major, Class of 2025 | Faculty PI:
H. Andrew Schwartz, PhD, Computer Science
by Myra Arif, Applied Mathematics & Statistics & Physics Double Major, Class of 2025
| Faculty PI: H. Andrew Schwartz, PhD, Computer Science
by Sophia Cadolino, Biology Major, Class of 2027 | Faculty PI: Lonnie Wollmuth, PhD , Neurobiology
by Mariam Hassan, Biochemistry Major, Class of 2027 | Faculty PI: Martin Kaczocha,
PhD, Anesthesiology
by Bryant Peña, Chemisty & Biology Double Major, Class of 2026 | Faculty PI: Surita Bhatiam, PhD, Chemistry
by Gabrielle Vaccaro, Biochemistry Major, Class of 2025 | Faculty PI: Dave Mckinnon,
PhD & Barbara Rosati, PhD, Neurobiology