John Chrystal Center, Room 116
1103 Park St.
Grinnell, IA 50112
United States
Carlie VanWilligen
Director of Institutional Research
Carlie has worked for Grinnell College in various capacities since 1996. Beginning in Information Technology Services, she worked her way from training coordinator to systems analyst before turning her attention to institutional research. As Director of Institutional Research, Carlie is responsible for creating and maintaining information systems in support of research requests from administration and faculty, coordinating Grinnell’s external reporting (IPEDS, common data set, US News, Princeton Review, and others), managing components of assessment and accreditation activities, and providing data extracts for research. In addition to her work in analytic support and institutional research, she has also served on the inaugural staff council, benefits committee, assessment committee, strategic planning committee, budget planning committee, and participates in many other campus activities.
Carlie has taught in higher education for 20 years, both in information technology and general education. Carlie earned her B.A degree in Mathematics from Simpson College and an M.B.A. from St. Ambrose University. When she isn’t counting things in support of data and research, she can be found reading mysteries where she figures out “who done it” before the end, or taking classes in subjects that interest her.
Skills and Interests
- Merging data from multiple systems into usable formats.
- Understanding which sources of information will best meet a request’s needs.
- Bridging academics and administration using common data structures and language.
- Finding opportunities to incorporate the work of analytic support and institutional research with other offices.
- Working on new ways to approach data and its use in decision making.