Katie Smillie, MS

Katie serves as the Assistant Director of Student Success Analytics in Institutional Research and Planning. As her work in statistics and data analytics began in 2019, she brings a strong foundation in quantitative research and a deep commitment to advancing student success through data-informed decision-making. Katie earned her BS in Secondary Education Mathematics from Saginaw Valley State University and began her career journey teaching high school mathematics before pursuing an MS in Applied Statistics at OSU, where she also lectured undergraduate statistics courses. Her passion for both education and data continues to shape her work and approach.

 

In her current role, Katie leads and develops a comprehensive student success analytics function, leveraging statistical modeling, mixed methods research, and data integration across complex institutional systems to generate actionable insights. She collaborates with executive leadership, faculty, and stakeholders across the university to design and implement innovative analytical strategies and tools that support institutional priorities and enhance student outcomes. In addition to overseeing high-impact analytics projects, Katie mentors a team of analysts and fosters a culture of data accessibility, transparency, and strategic storytelling to drive meaningful change across the university.