UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Catherine E. Watt has been named senior director of institutional research in the Office of Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research (OPAIR) at Penn State.
“Catherine is an experienced and successful higher education professional whose work is well-respected,” said Lance Kennedy-Phillips, vice provost for Planning, Assessment, and Institutional Research. “I have worked with her as an institutional research colleague for nearly 20 years and know she will be a great addition to OPAIR and Penn State.”
The OPAIR team collectively maintains the University’s Data Digest and the We Earn alumni earnings website, and also conducted Penn State’s first-ever University-wide Community Survey. The team is responsible for internal reporting and analysis, institutional research, and data governance, and it provides the University’s data submissions associated with national and world rankings, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System surveys, and Pennsylvania Department of Education reports. In her role, Watt oversees a team of eight data analysts and research associates.
Watt said she chose Penn State for several reasons, including her appreciation of land-grant institutions, their mission of service, and support of higher education for all.
“I’ve worked for every type of educational institution from a small liberal arts college to large public universities,” said Watt. “Land-grant institutions — at their heart — exist to serve. Their extension programs foster knowledge and bring about positive change in our communities. They’re also where you find the best kind of research that is both theoretical and applied. Penn State represents serving the people of Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world. What better place to be?”
“We are thrilled to have an institutional research professional of Catherine’s caliber join our team,” said Karen Vance, associate vice provost for institutional research. “Her experience in all facets of institutional research brings a welcome perspective to the work we do.”
Watt previously held roles as director of institutional research at Clemson University and Washington College and associate dean for distance learning at Purdue University. She founded and served as CEO of University Education Consortium Inc., where she regularly advocated for increased educational access and affordability, particularly for military veterans and their families. She most recently served as director of compliance with Tri-County Technical College in Pendleton, South Carolina.
Watt earned her bachelor’s degree from the South Carolina Honors College at the University of South Carolina and her master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. She earned her doctorate in higher education leadership and policy from the University of Maryland.
“In my role, it’s about efficiently getting and giving information, pulling the right data and turning it into easily digestible material useful to those who need it to make informed decisions,” said Watt. “It’s about how we use that data to support the University’s strategic goals and operations. I look forward to working with some really great people who make a difference in these efforts and the larger Penn State community.”