Meet Janet Bland, PhD, DataKind’s Senior Education Implementation Manager. With decades of experience spanning faculty, academic leadership, and higher education consulting, Janet brings a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing today’s colleges and universities.
As DataKind continues to expand its work in higher education – from supporting institutions with Edvise to advancing new data infrastructure that helps colleges make better-informed decisions – Janet plays a key role in partnering with institutions to implement solutions that improve student success.
Beyond working alongside our college and university partners, Janet’s experience as a provost, educator, and thought leader will also be featured in an upcoming “From the Provost’s Desk” blog series, where she’ll share perspectives on the evolving higher education landscape and the future of student success. We’re excited to spotlight Janet’s expertise and the insights she’ll bring to the broader education community.
Read on to learn more about Janet’s career in higher education, what inspired her to join DataKind, and a few of the interests that keep her busy outside of work.
What were you up to before DataKind?
Prior to joining DataKind, I was a consultant in the higher education and tech space with LLC Cloudburst Learning. But the majority of my career thus far has been spent on campuses, as a faculty member and administrator. My last position was Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Marietta College.
Why were you excited to join DataKind?
I was very excited to join DataKind because of the work we’re doing to help colleges and universities build a stronger foundation for using data to improve student success. My current focus is supporting our partner schools as they adopt and then implement Edvise, DataKind’s AI-powered advising platform. While I no longer work on a campus, building relationships with our partners, who are deeply committed to the success of their students, is so meaningful for me. I truly believe that DataKind’s work is going to change higher education, and I want to be part of a team making such a profound impact.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, in addition to time with family and friends, I enjoy music and reading and innovative restaurants. If things get really desperate, I pick up the ukulele.
Join the DataKind movement.
- Interested in supporting our work? Donate here.
- Interested in sponsoring a project? Partner with us.
- Interested in subscribing to our newsletter? Sign up.
