My current role in institutional research focuses on cyclical internal reporting, ad-hoc research, state/federal reporting, and components of effectiveness. One of the mission pillars at Florida SouthWestern State College is to provide a supportive environment through which the lives of our students are transformed.

Name: Emmaline Blikstad
Title: Coordinator, Investigative Institutional Research
Organization: Florida SouthWestern State College

Can you describe your current role in institutional research and how it supports your institution’s mission?

My current role in institutional research focuses on cyclical internal reporting, ad-hoc research, state/federal reporting, and components of effectiveness. One of the mission pillars at Florida SouthWestern State College is to provide a supportive environment through which the lives of our students are transformed. Though my role is removed from day-to-day student activities, the data support I provide helps leadership make informed decisions that impact our students, our institution, and ultimately, the communities we serve.

What sparked your interest in institutional research, and how has your career evolved since then?

The research side of institutional research sparked my initial interest in the field. As an undergraduate, I was heavily engaged in research—digging into sources, learning research methods for multiple disciplines, and supporting undergraduate research publishing. Though institutional research focuses on a different kind of inquiry, it still felt like a natural fit. Two and a half years later, research and curiosity are still at the heart of what I do. Though most of my analyses are shaped by institutional needs, I find myself continually asking new questions of the data and expanding my understanding of the institution the data reflects.

What’s one project or accomplishment in your IR work that you’re especially proud of—and why?

One project I am proud of is revamping my institution’s Program Reviews. Through the vision and guidance of my boss, Dr. Joseph van Gaalen, I took what was essentially a printed excel sheet with tables of aggregated data and turned it into a twenty-page document that visualized nearly every element of the data and contained detailed captions to explain the data. I am proud of the project because I believe it increased program leadership’s connection to, and value of, the Program Reviews and helped the reports become a more utilized tool across the College..

What do you find most rewarding (or enjoyable) about working in IR?

The most rewarding part about working in IR is when I am able to provide a report to someone who thought they would have to pull, organize, and/or analyze the data manually. When they see that all they have to do with the data is think about it and use it, the look—or email—of relief is palpable. I find these instances to be some of the most rewarding of my job.

When you’re not working with data, how do you like to spend your time?

When I am not working with data, I like to cook, bake, play piano and pick-up soccer, run, read, and spend time with loved ones.