Public sector leaders are increasingly expected to collect, interpret, and act on data — but are often hindered by fragmented datasets, limited analytical capacity, and no clear path from findings to decision. My work focuses on closing that gap.
I currently work at the NC Department of Commerce’s Energy and Infrastructure Office, where I analyze workforce, economic, and energy data to inform the state’s economic development strategy around the energy sector. My work includes white papers, dashboards, and briefings that support decisions related to workforce development, energy deployment, and industrial growth — translated for audiences ranging from agency leadership to the public. Recently I’ve been focused on North Carolina’s rapidly changing data center industry and how local governments can build better policy around data center development.
I also teach Communicating with Data at UNC Chapel Hill’s Department of City & Regional Planning, a graduate course focused on data visualization, analytical writing, and presenting findings to non-technical audiences.
Previously, I was the Assistant Director for Data & Analytics at the UNC School of Government’s Development Finance Initiative, where I led an analytical team that partnered with local governments on affordable housing, historic preservation, and downtown revitalization. That work included developing rebuilding strategies for post-disaster communities, helping local governments identify competitive sites for affordable housing, and assessing neighborhood-level data for community development decisions. I also co-taught the Affordable Housing Seminar, training local government staff to apply data in housing policy and development.