Local Resident Named Director of Research at CTData Collaborative

The Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData) is pleased to announce the promotion of Guilford resident Cynthia Willner to Director of Research, Jason Cheung to the position of Director of Data and Analytics, Jill Walsh to the position of Senior Geographic Information System and Data Analyst, and the hiring of Chase Wilson as a Research Analyst.

The organizational advancements recognize significant contributions to CTData’s mission and dedication to leveraging data and research to improve informed decision-making across Connecticut.

Willner, assuming the role of Director of Research, brings two decades of research experience to her expanded leadership role at CTData. She is a highly regarded research scientist committed to conducting research for the public good, including current work to understand child care needs in Connecticut, with expertise in early childhood care and education, human development and social policy, child and adolescent mental health, ethical research practices, survey design, and quantitative and qualitative research methods.

A Senior Research Associate with CTData since 2022, Willner has led community-based research projects combining surveys, focus groups, administrative records, and public data to yield policy-relevant insights particularly in the early childhood area. Her current project with the Rapid EC survey, a Stamford University survey looking to learn about the needs of children and families in Connecticut, is going to be informative for early childhood policy. She has a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University, and has previously worked as an Associate Research Scientist at the Yale Child Study Center and as a Research Analyst at the social policy research institute MDRC.

“I’m passionate about conducting research to inform the work of non-profits, public agencies, advocates, policymakers, and others who are trying to make a positive difference for Connecticut’s residents,” explained Willner. “In my time at CTData, I’ve expanded our capacity to conduct surveys and focus groups that allow us to hear directly from residents and human service providers about their experiences and needs. In my new role as Director of Research, I look forward to continuing to grow our research work to inform data-driven decision-making that can advance equity in Connecticut.”

CTData is at the forefront of data analysis and dissemination in Connecticut, connecting people with data to promote informed decision-making and advance equity across Connecticut. CTData engages those most affected by decisions in data exploration and provides tools, resources, and expertise to empower individuals and organizations to use data effectively.

CTData also shares expertise with programming for businesses, nonprofits and individuals, including Youth Data Programs, Customized Data Workshops, Data Storytelling, Building Better Surveys, Data Visualization, Analyzing Qualitative Data, Analyzing Quantitative Data, and Data Literacy. CTData operates the CTData Academy, which offers an array of workshops for state residents to learn more about evaluating data quality, becoming a critical consumer and creator of data, improving data work, creating impactful visualizations using data, and more.

In addition, CTData offers a data “helpline” for assisting data users with obtaining, displaying, interpreting, and using data; and Data Strategic Planning for organizations to improve internal data processes to increase data storytelling, impact measurement, and promote efficiency. The organization also partners with groups to analyze, visualize, and share data in ways that are accessible and actionable.

CTData is a member of the National Neighborhood Indicators Partnership and earned the organization’s 2024 Network Steward Award, and has been designated as the lead organization for the State of Connecticut in the U.S. Census Bureau’s State Data Center Program, serving as the liaison between the public and the Census Bureau.

For more information about CTData, visit www.ctdata.org/.