Staff

Leadership Team Link

Stephen J. Vassallo

sjvassal@syr.edu
Assistant Vice President
M.P.A., New York University
B.A., Syracuse University

Steve joined in 2019 to lead a group of exceptional individuals within OIR. Steve sets the strategy for OIR to meet the evolving data and research needs of the University. By collaborating with groups across campus on projects and initiatives, Steve aims to take the data expertise, institutional knowledge, and innovative analyses of OIR and transform data into ideas that improve the student experience. Prior to joining the group, Steve was the Assistant Vice Chancellor of the Office of Data Analytics at the University of Colorado Boulder and the Director of the Decision Support Group at NYU.

Seth Ovadia

saovadia@syr.edu
Associate Director
Ph.D., University of Maryland College Park (Sociology)

Seth joined OIR in 2012, after holding positions as a professor of Sociology at Bowdoin College and Towson University. Seth coordinates the survey and research activities of the department. He is also responsible for the analysis of University and department rankings published by external agencies, as well as the execution of a variety of ad hoc studies. Seth is the author of 11 articles and book chapters and has made more than 20 presentations to professional conferences.

Levi Peckham

lnpeckha@syr.edu
Assistant Director
M.S., Syracuse University (Information Management)
C.A.S., Syracuse University (Data Science)
B.A., Berklee College of Music (Film Scoring)

Levi joined OIR in 2012 after working as a Data Manager & Analyst at his alma mater, Berklee College of Music. In addition to being an accomplished audio engineer, lifelong composer, and music enthusiast, Levi has over 15 years of higher education experience at institutions in Boston and Minneapolis. He has held a range of positions with an emphasis on information technology, specializing in areas such as systems administration, data management, process and systems analytics, and operational and technical support. Levi’s primary responsibilities in OIR include multi-system data extracts, synthesis, and validation for both statutory reporting (i.e. IPEDS, NYSED), annual surveys, and ad-hoc requests.

Timothy H. Wasserman

thwasser@syr.edu
Assistant Director
Ph.D., Syracuse University (Higher Education Administration)
M.S., Syracuse University (Applied Statistics)

Tim was a member of OIR at its founding in 2006. Before then, he was with SU’s Center for Support of Teaching and Learning. As a programmer and one of OIR’s statisticians, Tim is primarily responsible for supporting a variety of institutional research efforts including statistical analysis, predictive analytics, retention and graduation rates data and analyses, as well as a variety of other reporting responsibilities. He oversees OIR’s admissions and student records reporting group. Tim has taught statistics at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has numerous publications and presentations in the social sciences and education fields.

Nancy Impelizzieri

ngimpeli@syr.edu
Administrative Assistant
B.A., LeMoyne College (English)

Nancy manages OIR’s front office reception area and provides word-processing, data entry, and secretarial support to the OIR staff. Her primary responsibility is to lend administrative support and assistance to the Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research. Nancy manages payroll, facilitates personnel actions, schedules meetings, coordinates office functions, and handles office expenditures and budget-related tasks. Other responsibilities include communicating with University departments and external organizations, records management, managing conference registrations, making travel arrangements, and training and supervising student employees.

Ying Lin

Ylin65@syr.edu
Director of Analytics
Ph.D., University of Delaware (Computer Science)

Ying joined OIR in 2022 as a Director of Analytics after working as a Director of Research for Enrollment Management in Syracuse University. Ying is responsible for the development and deployment of analytical strategies that aid in decision making processes throughout the University, with a particular focus on supporting Academic Affairs, Schools, and Colleges. He provides advanced analytics leadership through leveraging machine learning algorithms/statistical data mining methodologies and monitoring the latest trends in how the higher education sector is deploying analytics.

DataInsights Team Link

Julie Hall

jchall@syr.edu
Computer Consultant II
B.A., SUNY Oswego (Art)

Julie’s duties for OIR include dashboard development, programming for online surveys, database design and management, data analysis, graphics design, and web page development. Julie began working for SU in 1989 at the Center for Instructional Development, later renamed the Center for Support of Teaching and Learning.

Timothy J. Lally

tjlally@syr.edu
Functional Business Analyst
M.S., Rochester Institute of Technology (Applied Statistics)
B.S., Rochester Institute of Technology (Economics)

Tim provides technical support for OIR staff related to various institutional data systems. His primary focus is acting as liaison between OIR and Information Technology Services (ITS), translating function needs into technical requirements. He also coordinates ongoing data warehousing and BI projects. Prior to joining OIR in 2006, Tim worked in OIR at SUNY Upstate Medical University and in private sector manufacturing supply chain management.

Institutional Reporting Team Link

Noor Adnan Aljiboury

naatiyaa@syr.edu
Research Analyst II
M.S., Syracuse University (Information Management)
B.S., Syracuse University (Information Management & Technology)

Noor joined OIR as a Research Analyst in 2021 and she is responsible for assisting with the compilation and submission of internal and external reports and surveys, as well as serving as a data source for ad hoc requests. She is a two-time alumna of Syracuse University, earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in information management and technology. Prior to joining IR, Noor worked as an information and e-marketing analyst. Noor’s family is originally from Iraq, and she has been living in Syracuse ever since her family migrated to the U.S. In her free time, Noor volunteers to help refugees with appointments and filing paperwork, has given Arabic lessons to kids whose parents’ native language is Arabic and do not want their kids to lose the language, and serves as a member of the Board of Directors in the Cora Foundation. She also enjoys nature, photography, soccer, volleyball and playing video games.

Edward A. Kiewra

eakiewra@syr.edu
Research Associate
M.A., Pepperdine University (Education)
B.A., Hofstra University (Chemistry)

Ed is involved in research initiatives on a variety of topics of University-wide importance. Additionally, he works with a variety of faculty and staff to conduct evaluation studies with a more limited focus. In this capacity, he assists in the formulation of goals and objectives, develops evaluation plans, designs assessment instruments, conducts interviews and focus groups, analyzes and interprets quantitative and qualitative data, prepares reports, and communicates findings to the appropriate audience. He is also responsible for the coordination, collection, and submission of data for the full range of guidebook and rankings surveys in which the University participates. Ed began working for the University on a full-time basis in 2000 and joined the staff of the OIR in 2007.

Ryan Mandelis

rpmandel@syr.edu
Research Analyst
M.S., SUNY Binghamton (Data Analytics)
B.A., SUNY Binghamton (Actuarial Sciences)

Ryan finished his master’s program at Binghamton University in the Spring of 2021. Ryan then joined OIR in November of 2021 after working as a Data Analyst for the CDC on a five-month contract. Ryan’s responsibilities include compilation and curation of data for various institutional reports, projects, and requests. He also aids in the creation and maintenance of data models and institutional dashboards. Outside of work, Ryan has great passion for music, the outdoors, and sports.

Lisa Cregan

lmcregan@syr.edu
Team Lead/Research Analyst
M.P.A., Syracuse University (Public Management)

Lisa’s responsibilities include assisting with creating and maintaining a database of key information for use in data reporting and analysis to ensure consistency and efficiency, serving as a source for data requests in multiple areas of enterprise data, and serving as liaison in collaborations with other offices. Lisa previously worked as an Administrative Analyst in the Onondaga County Department of Social Services, Children’s Division. She began working for the University in 2009 in Human Resources and joined OIR in 2014.

Pazy Davis

psdavi01@syr.edu
Research Analyst
M.A., Cleveland State University (Consumer-Industrial Research Psychology)

Pazy has conducted research for the department of enrollment management since 2010. This research includes collection of data from external sources, conducting surveys of admitted students, and statistical analyses. She also generates reports of admissions data. Pazy has previously held positions at market research firms where she was responsible for survey design, collection, analysis, and reporting.

Kimberley Sallie

ksallie@syr.edu
Senior Data Analyst
B.Comm., Carleton University; B.B.E., Brock University

Kimberley has worked as a data analyst at Syracuse University for 14 years. Her main responsibilities include creating/providing ad-hoc and routine data reports for Undergraduate Admissions, on both the applicant (PeopleSoft) and recruit (CRM) platforms. In addition, Kimberley has developed numerous audit reports to ensure data quality of Syracuse University’s Undergraduate applicants. Kimberley has also been involved in the testing of new views and new database software.

Harleen Singh

hsingh02@syr.edu
Data Analyst
B.S., Kansas State University

Harleen joined OIR in 2016 as a Data Analyst. Her main responsibilities include working with Hyperion Interactive Reporting system, and creating and providing reports for data related to Graduate and Undergraduate Admissions. In the past, she has worked for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) to create reports for PBS LearningMedia using the NextReports Designer system. Her past experience also includes webpage design, HTML/CSS programming, and Drupal/OmniUpdate programming.

Operational Reporting – Student Records Reporting Link

Daniel Stevens

dosteven@syr.edu
Student Data Analyst

Working for the Registrar’s Office since 2001 in support of Student Records reports and enrollment data to colleges, offices and departments all around Syracuse University, Dan’s responsibilities include designing, creating, and serving as liaison in collaborations with other offices, and implementing of routine and ad-hoc reports for Student Records on behalf of the Registrar’s Office.

Research Team Link

Brad Fetes

bfetes@syr.edu
Research Associate
M.P.H., Upstate Medical/Syracuse University

Brad is responsible for the design, development, and implementation of research projects that inform strategic action by the University. He also works with newly collected and previously existing data to provide the University community with issues of interest to administrators, faculty, staff, and students. Brad joined OIR in 2017.

Amy K. Gardiner

akgardin@syr.edu
Senior Institutional Planning Analyst
Ph.D., Florida Atlantic University (Experimental Psychology)

Amy produces research findings to ensure that decision making for university policy and planning initiatives is evidence-based. This involves working with the Director to understand the goals of the administration, conducting data collection and performing quantitative analysis, and communicating findings through writing, infographics, and oral presentation. Amy was previously an Assistant Professor of Psychology at a small liberal arts college. She joined OIR in 2014.

Joanna Herron

jrherron@syr.edu
Survey Data Analyst
B.S., SUNY New Paltz (Mathematics & Psychology)

Joanna is responsible for the coordination, collection, and submission of data for the full range of guidebook and rankings surveys in which the University participates, as well as the tracking and analysis of published ranking information. Prior to joining OIR in 2022, she worked in financial services as a Systems Analyst, specializing in loan software configuration, automation, and reporting. Outside of work, Joanna enjoys hiking, yoga, tabletop/board games, and spoiling her dogs.

Sarah Smith

srsmith4@syr.edu
Research Associate
B.A., Ithaca College (Psychology)

Sarah contributes to the implementation of research projects conducted for the University with her experience in study design, instrument development, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Prior to joining OIR in 2018, Sarah worked for a research consulting firm where she managed research and evaluation projects for various educational institutions.