Message from the Vice President and Chief Data Officer

Greetings,

I’m honored to serve as Louisiana State University’s  inaugural Vice President and Chief Data Officer. It is with immense pride and profound gratitude that I step into this role. I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to continue to serve LSU in this new capacity and eager to collaborate with all of you.

In this role, I look forward  to fostering a data-informed culture within the university by serving as LSU's chief data strategist. It is my responsibility and privilege to leverage the vast growth of data within our university community, transforming it into actionable information to further our research, teaching, and service mission. The possibilities for discovery and innovation are truly boundless when we begin to unlock and harness the power of data.

Before stepping into my current role, I have served LSU in various leadership capacities, including the Special Advisor to the President and as an Associate Vice President of the Office of Research and Economic Development. And during the challenging times of the pandemic, I spearheaded the LSU Covid Response team, where I worked closely with the President and administrative units to guide the university through unprecedented times. Each role has presented its unique challenges, but also immense opportunities for growth and innovation.

My passion for education and research began at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I earned my Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, specializing in Psychometrics, Educational Measurement, Applied Statistics, and Program Evaluation. I also hold a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from UIUC and a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Central Missouri.

My academic career began at Harvard University as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Lecturer in the Graduate School of Education. In the Fall of 2007, I joined the faculty at LSU, where I started as an Assistant Professor and was tenured and promoted to Associate and Full Professor. Over the years, I have been fortunate to teach Statistics, Research Methods, and Evaluation to many dedicated students who have since made their mark as higher education administrators, K-12 administrators, professors, and in industry as statisticians, and data scientists. I am inspired every day by the potential and ambition of our students, who constantly remind me of the importance of our mission.

My research has primarily focused on the topics of standardized testing, evaluation, STEM education and achievement. In particular, my latest book project titled "Global Perspectives on Educational Testing: Examining Fairness, High-Stakes, and Policy Reform" encompasses my scholarly pursuits and interests. In addition, I feel privileged to have received several invitations to serve on esteemed national committees and boards. Some notable ones include the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Technical Advisory Committee, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Global Higher Education Technical Advisory Committee, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)/National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) Advisory Panel. It has been an honor to contribute my expertise and insights to these influential platforms.

Thank you for your confidence and support. Together, we will navigate the opportunities that lie ahead and continue to uphold LSU's legacy of excellence.

Sincerely,
Keena Arbuthnot
Vice President and Chief Data Officer 
Office of Data and Strategic Analytics