Carolyn Sloane Mata, Coordinator for Research and Data for the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities (OAICU), has over 20 years of experience supporting colleges, universities, and higher education associations. Her areas of focus include institutional research, accreditation, assessment, and the use of state and federal data systems to support decision-making and policy alignment. Dr. Mata has served as an IPEDS Educator since 2015, developing and facilitating national training workshops on benchmarking, data reporting, and public higher education data use. She has contributed to the development of IPEDS curriculum and tutorials for the Association for Institutional Research (AIR), and regularly participates in Technical Review Panels and advisory groups for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), including terms on the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative (NPEC). Her other work includes commissioned research on equity measures and federal reporting, data literacy, and support for data-informed institutional effectiveness efforts. Dr. Mata previously served as Vice President for Research and Planning at Oglethorpe University and as Vice President for Research at the Georgia Independent College Association. Her consulting practice includes serving as the research and data staff for the independent college associations in five states, as well as work with a (formerly) regional accrediting body, the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, ECMC, and more. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Sociology from Florida State University, two M.Ed. degrees in education, and a graduate certificate in Domestic Violence. Her work often bridges research, policy, and practice in service of improving student success and institutional outcomes.

In a time when higher education is navigating political crosswinds, funding pressures, and shifting public trust, the work of institutional research has never been more critical—or more misunderstood. This session will explore the emerging trends reshaping the IR landscape, from the erosion of trust in data to the growing need for clear, concise, and compelling storytelling.

We’ll tackle big questions:

• Why does IR so often feel invisible—until someone wants numbers, fast?

• How do we stay agile in environments where advocacy feels risky and data infrastructure feels fragile?

• What does it mean to do “good enough” analysis in a world of imperfect data and tight timelines?

Through real-world examples and candid reflections from her work with colleges nationwide, Carrie will challenge IR professionals to step beyond compliance and into impact—to ask better questions, ground their work in purpose, and reclaim the narrative. Whether you're answering a legislator’s call or informing your campus’s next big move, this session is a call to action for IR to lead with clarity, courage, and strategy.