Keely Jones Stater Joins Connecticut Data Collaborative as Program Evaluation Specialist

The Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData) is pleased to announce the appointment of Keely Jones Stater to the position of Program Evaluation Specialist, with a primary focus on working with organizations to identify key program goals and design a framework to measure and evaluate program impact.

CTData’s mission is to connect people and data to promote informed decision-making and to advance equity in Connecticut. Program evaluation is an essential component, providing businesses, nonprofits, and government entities with the tools to develop policy initiatives and determine the effectiveness of new and existing programs.

Keely Jones Stater has a PhD in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame and a research focus on housing. She has worked in academia, research and advocacy nonprofits, and consulting firms over the course of her career, including more than a decade with the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation in Connecticut. Most recently, the longtime West Hartford resident was a Senior Research Associate at Abt Global.

“We’re pleased to welcome Keely to our team of experts," said Michelle Riordan-Nold, Executive Director of CTData. "Keely brings innovative approaches, vast experience, and a high level of expertise and evaluation skills that will inform and support our work with various businesses, organizations and constituencies throughout the state."

"I'm excited to be a part of CTData's team and have the chance to engage with organizations doing important work here in Connecticut,” Stater said. “I hope I can employ my research and evaluation experience to provide useful tools to help organizations measure their impact and enhance their efforts."

CTData is at the forefront of data analysis and dissemination in Connecticut, and recently launched a Data for Democracy series of public sessions and webinars, highlighting the importance of protecting public access to data used in decision-making and proactive steps than can be taken. In its programming, 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. CTData 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/.