Current Extension Projects/Programs
Data Science for the Public Good (DSPG) Young Scholars program - Program Director
This program is an immersive summer program that engages students from across Iowa to work together on projects that address local and state government challenges around critical social issues relevant in the world today. DSPG resident scholars conduct research at the intersection of statistics, computation, and the social sciences to determine how information generated within every community can be leveraged to improve quality of life and inform public policy. This program provides an excellent opportunity to develop a professional portfolio, expand your networks, and learn about the application of data science. Please visit the website to see descriptions of recent projects.
Extension and Outreach Indicators program - Program Director
This program aims to provide decision makers with easy to access and up-to-date demographic, economic and social data that can be used in grant proposals and other local initiatives. The program includes the publication of the Data for Decision Makers, Iowa Government Finance Initiative and the AgMRC commodity reports. These programs utilize several data management algorithms and data base structures to keep the information updated as new data is released by various state and federal agencies.
Languages Spoken in Iowa Project - Principle Investigator
The Iowa Department of Human Rights, in a partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Community and Economic Development, envisioned this portal and tool to better assist state agencies, policymakers and community-based organizations statewide in harnessing data regarding the languages spoken across the state to improve operations, streamline outreach initiatives and meet federal-funding obligations.
Iowans Walking Assessment Logistics Kit (I-WALK) - Principle Investigator
The I-WALK program utilizes spatial technology and facilitated Volunteered Geographic Information (f-VGI) to improve Safe Routes to School and walkability of neighborhoods. While the I-WALK program has concluded, new community initiatives have spawn from this outreach. One new project in 2023 will involve the mapping of community infrastructure for the purpose of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications. Please contact me directly for more information on this program.